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Baker County adopts emergency countywide burn ban amid severe drought
Summary
The Baker County Board of County Commissioners adopted Resolution 2025-20 at an emergency meeting, declaring a local state of emergency and imposing a countywide burn ban that allows only gas or charcoal grills and burns authorized by the Florida Forest Service; the ban will be reassessed weekly and rescinded by public announcement.
Baker County commissioners voted unanimously to adopt an emergency countywide burn ban during an emergency meeting, citing severe drought conditions and recent rapidly spreading fires.
An emergency services presenter, who asked the commission to act, said the county has experienced nearly daily fires in the previous week and that "We had 2 today already," arguing the conditions warranted a ban. The presenter identified Roland Gaskins (Forest area supervisor for Baker County), Assistant Chief Dawn Blanton and City Fire Chief Scott Cruz as participating in the discussion.
The resolution adopted by the board, read by the clerk, is titled "Resolution 2025-20, a resolution of the Board of County Commissioners of Baker County, Florida declaring a local state of emergency in Baker County and issuing a ban against burning, providing for recall of same, and establishing an effective date." The board moved, seconded and approved the measure; the chair said, "Motion carries unanimously."
Officials explained the ban covers all outdoor burning across the county and the city of Macclenny's jurisdiction. The presenter said the drought map placed much of the county in "red" and "dark red," with some spots reported above 700 on the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (described in the meeting as having 800 as the worst), and that "most of the county is at least 650." The presenters said the county will reassess conditions weekly in consultation with fire chiefs and the Florida Forest Service.
The board set narrow exceptions to the ban: "The only thing will be allowed is a barbecue grill that is either gas or charcoal," the presenter said, and burns authorized by the Florida Forest Service (Gaskins' office) are also permitted. Commissioners asked what index level would trigger rescinding the ban; an unidentified participant said, "We normally like it below 500," and officials said they would watch rainfall, fire activity and index values before lifting the ban.
The resolution will remain in effect until officials issue a public announcement rescinding it. The meeting ended after the vote and a brief motion to adjourn.
Calls and enforcement questions were not detailed in the record; the county said it would make public announcements concerning rescission and enforcement as needed.
