The Escambia County Interim Fire Chief, in consultation with Escambia County Emergency Management and the Florida Forest Service, will lift the burn ban for the remainder of the county, effective immediately.
The criteria utilized to implement the burn ban predicts more suitable conditions in which to start an open fire when following the guidelines established by the Florida Forestry Service. These guidelines in conjunction with safe practices while open burning provide the guidance needed to lift the burn ban for Escambia County and all incorporated areas. Please note: per city ordinance, open burning is not allowed within City of Pensacola limits, regardless of weather conditions or county and state burn bans. For more information about the city,
please review the city’s outdoor fire ordinance.
Please remember to follow these
outdoor burning regulations for Escambia County and incorporated areas:
- It is illegal to burn household garbage (including paper products), treated lumber, rubber materials, tires, pesticides, paint and aerosol containers.
- Dry (not green) vegetative debris such as grass clippings, pine straw, leaves, tree limbs and shrub trimmings can be legally burned between 8 a.m. and one hour before sunset if it is in a pile not larger than 8 ft. in diameter and located:
- 25 feet from any forested area (grasslands, brush or wildlands).
- 25 feet from your home or other combustible structure.
- 50 feet from any paved or public roadway.
- 150 feet from any occupied dwelling other than your own home.
To ensure that a backyard debris burn is really out, follow these steps:
- Drown the fire with water, turn over the ashes with a shovel and drown it again. Repeat several times until it is dead.
- Check the burn area regularly over the next several days.
- At the onset of warm, dry weather, especially when accompanied by wind, check the burn area again, even if it is weeks after the burn.
Residents of Escambia County who intend to open burn should contact
Blackwater Forestry Center at 850-957-6140 and refer to their
outdoor burning tips.
Please remember to dial 9-1-1 for an emergency or visit www.myescambia.com/ask to complete a non-emergent customer service request.
