Red Flag Warning: Burn Ban Issued In Santa Rosa, But Not Escambia

October 31, 2023

Officials with the Florida Forest Service’s Blackwater Forestry Center are putting a halt to issuing authorizations for all prescribed or pile burns as increased winds and extremely low humidity arrives in the area for the next several days. The cold front coupled with a lack of rain over the past several weeks make for extremely dangerous conditions if any fires were to start.

The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch through Wednesday because of critically low humidity levels – as low as 15-20% – and sustained north winds of 15-20 mph with gusts to 30.

Burn bans are in effect in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties, while Escambia County Residents are urged to not conduct any outdoor burning until conditions improve.

“We all know it’s dry and folks just need to be careful,” said David Smith, Operations Administrator for the Blackwater Forestry Center. “It’s not completely out of the ordinary to have a dry fall, but it’s important that people are cautious with what they’re doing in regard to fire until we get some significant rain.”

Pictured: A wildfire in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

One Response to “Red Flag Warning: Burn Ban Issued In Santa Rosa, But Not Escambia”

  1. Me on November 2nd, 2023 12:08 pm

    And WHY NOT in Escambia County too!

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News