TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Leon County extended its local state of emergency and countywide burn ban Friday.<\/p>\n
The ban was declared on March 27<\/a> and expected to remain in place through Friday, April 3. <\/p>\n However, to protect \u201cthe community as severe drought conditions and escalating wildlife activity continue throughout Florida and the Big Bend region,\u201d county officials said the ban will now remain in effect through Friday, April 10, at 5 p.m.<\/p>\n \u201cFire risk is not a forecast, it is here and it is now. More than 25 of Florida\u2019s 67 counties are under active burn bans. Our neighbors are already extending their bans,\u201d Leon County Commission Chairman Christian Caban said. \u201dI want to thank our residents for their patience and attention to this ban, and our first responders for their continued service in these dangerous conditions.”<\/p>\n More Tallahassee News<\/p>\n During the ban, all open burning in the county that is not authorized by the Florida Forest Service is prohibited, according to the county\u2019s Friday press release. <\/p>\n That includes the burning of yard debris, land-clearing fires, brush piles and site-preparation burns, bonfires, campfires, fire pits and similar ceremonial or recreational fires on both private and public property, the burning of solid waste, construction debris or household trash as well as the use of burn barrels or similar devices for outdoor burning, according to the county.<\/p>\n Violations of the burn ban may be subject to fines and other penalties, county officials said.<\/p>\n To learn more about the extension, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, Nextdoor<\/a> <\/a>and X<\/a> (Twitter<\/a>).<\/p>\n Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here<\/a>. Please include the article\u2019s headline in your message.<\/p>\n Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here<\/a> to get started.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 WCTV. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n