INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A burn ban issued over the weekend will remain in effect until Saturday, county officials said. Extremely dry conditions led authorities to prohibit outdoor burning across the county unless it is authorized by state officials.
“After collaborating with our neighboring counties, we decided it is in the best interest of our residents to issue a burn ban today,” Indian River County Emergency Services Director Dave Johnson said last Saturday, April 8. St. Lucie County officials issued a burn ban the day prior.
Indian River County’s emergency burn ban will last until Saturday, April 15, county officials said. The ban comes as the county experiences strong winds this week with gusts as high as 30 mph, meteorologists said.
The ban includes the following:
- outdoor burning that has not been specifically permitted by the Florida Forest Service
- outdoor burning of yard trash, household paper products, bonfires, campfires, warming fires, outdoor fireplaces, chimeneas, and cooking fires unless it is for the cooking of food exclusively within a gas or charcoal grill
- setting fire to grass, brush, or forest-covered land
“The Treasure Coast has experienced dry weather for an extended period of time, prompting the emergency order,” County Interim Administrator Mike Zito said.
Violations for the burn ban include an initial $250 fine followed by $500 fines per incident, County Legislative Affairs and Communications Manager Kathy Copeland said.
Some much-needed rain was expected to sweep through the area later this week.
Thursday and Friday will have a 60-to-70 percent chance of showers with possible thunderstorms, according to the National Weather Service in Melbourne. A coastal flood advisory remains in effect until 4 a.m. Tuesday while a high surf advisory remains in effect until 4 p.m. the same day.