HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – For the fifth week running, Hillsborough County officials have extended an emergency ban on all outdoor burning as drought conditions reach critical levels.
County Administrator Bonnie Wise signed the latest executive order on Thursday, Feb. 12, citing a “high to very high” wildfire risk that is expected to bake the region through the end of the month.
The order shuts down fire pits, prohibits fireworks and sparklers, and halts all unauthorized trash or yard burning. The move follows a dangerous start to the year; Florida foresters have already battled over 600 wildfires that have scorched nearly 16,000 acres since January 1.
READ: Lakeland Linder Levels Up: Round-The-Clock Safety Crew Takes Flight
Under the current rules, outdoor grilling remains the only major exception for residents, provided the fire is contained within a grill and never left unattended. Specific agricultural burns in the south and east ends of the county are also permitted to keep the spring planting season on track.
State law limits these emergency declarations to seven-day increments, meaning the county must review and renew the ban weekly until significant rainfall returns. Residents are urged to clear dead vegetation from their roofs and gutters to reduce the “fuel” available to windblown embers.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
