Seminole, Osceola counties enact burn bans due to dry conditions

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Thanks to lower-than-normal rainfall amounts in March, dry conditions prompted Seminole and Osceola counties to enact burn bans Wednesday.

Crews have been fighting a brush fire in Seminole County since Monday, and while it’s contained, it’s still not out.

Firefighters said until the area gets some ran, the ban is here to stay.

Crews remained at the Seminole Woods subdivision as firefighters worked to put out hot spots.

There are currently seven active wildfires burning in Seminole County, and while they are all 100 percent contained, firefighters are keeping a close eye on them.

"The trees, the grass, the drought -- a fire can grow very rapidly and it's tough to get a handle on that," Seminole County Fire Department Assistant Chief Todd Gaddy said. "So that's why we instituted the ban, just to help prevent that from possibly happening."

They’re hoping the new burn ban will keep the situation from getting out of control.

“Any outdoor burning activities are obviously prohibited with the ban we have,” Gaddy said.

It could be a while before the dry conditions get better.

Gaddy said more than 88 acres have burned since Monday around the Black Hammock swamp area.

The drought got worse Wednesday—the state Forestry Service shows a 5-inch rain deficit.

For now, Gaddy said the ban will stay for at least seven days, and then fire crews will review the conditions.

Oviedo resident Austin Barnhill lives in the Black Hammock swamp area and said a single spark could set areas around him ablaze.

"I got a big field of just dead grass right now," he said. "So if one coal lands on that, it's going up, and that's another fire started."

Firefighters ask that Seminole County residents be mindful when using grills and never toss out cigarette butts because the consequences could be dangerous.

One of the biggest problems firefighters said they deal with are palm trees.

Gaddy said the oil in the trees act like gasoline, causing the trees to go up in flames quickly.

Cox Media Group