CENTRAL FLORIDA — After a few days of intermittent rain last week, Orange County on Monday became the most recent in Central Florida to rescind its burn ban for unincorporated areas and any municipalities served by Orange County Fire Rescue services — including Edgewood, Belle Isle, Oakland and Eatonville.
That means residents and businesses can resume recreational burning, including campfires and bonfires. Burning yard waste is generally prohibited in Orange County because of air quality concerns.
Burn bans are automatically put in place when the Keetch-Byram Drought Index meets or exceeds 500. The recent rainfall dropped the KBDI below 500 for the seventh consecutive day.
The city of St. Cloud also rescinded its burn ban on Monday. It will allow some types of outdoor burning within city limits and Florida Forest Service-permitted burning.
Since the end of last week, Lake and Osceola counties also removed their burn bans. Lake County’s ban was lifted Friday, and Osceola’s was rescinded Sunday. Brevard lifted its burn ban Wednesday.
However, county and state officials continue to urge residents and businesses to maintain caution and to watch all fires closely because the area has a significant rain deficit.