Hendry County raises burn-ban fines, directs revenue toward fire equipment reserves

The Hendry County Board of County Commissioners voted Jan. 13 to amend its fire prevention and protection ordinance, raising penalties for violating burn bans and directing any citation revenue toward equipment reserves for the county’s east and west municipal service benefit units (MSBUs).

County Attorney Matt Rollerson told the board the current fine for violating a burn ban is $100 and the proposed amendment increases the first offense fine to $500 and later offenses to $2,500. Rollerson said enforcement authority would include authorized fire departments, the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office and code enforcement, and that warnings and educational outreach would remain discretionary.

During public discussion board members cited repeated calls for burn incidents since Jan. 1 and expressed a desire for compliance rather than revenue generation. One commissioner said they had expected a higher fine level but ultimately supported the $500/$2,500 structure as a balance between deterrence and the county’s rural burning practices.

Rollerson explained how fines would be processed administratively: they would be handled as civil fines through the clerk’s office with an appellate process available in county court; enforcement agencies would prepare citations and supporting records, including affidavits and photographs, for any contested matters.

The board amended the motion to specify that revenue from citations could be allocated to MSBU equipment reserves on either side of the county, allowing funds to be moved between east and west MSBUs if a need arose. The board voted in favor of the ordinance change and the revenue-direction language.

Next steps: staff will finalize enforcement procedures in coordination with the fire departments and county attorney and will provide the board with administrative language reflecting how citation revenue will be received and earmarked.