OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – Osceola County officials officially pulled the plug on a weeks-long burn ban this morning, giving residents the green light to fire up their grills and clearing piles for the first time since late March.
The restriction, which had been clamped down on all unincorporated parts of the county since March 30, was dissolved after a string of wetter weather finally broke the back of a dangerous dry spell.
The decision came down to the numbers—specifically the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI). County ordinances require the KBDI average to show favorable, downward trends for seven straight days before a ban can be scrapped.
After hitting that week-long milestone, fire officials determined the soil moisture levels had recovered enough to lower the risk of runaway brush fires.
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While the legal shackles are off, the county isn’t suggesting people get reckless. Emergency officials are still urging everyone to keep a close eye on any outdoor flames, whether they are burning yard debris, cooking on an open pit, or setting off fireworks.
Even with the ban lifted, the basic rules of fire safety remain the backbone of the county’s policy to prevent a spark from turning into a headline.
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