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Alachua County Fire Rescue warns of prolonged burn ban as drought fuels multiple wildfires
Summary
Chief Harold Theis told the county commission that Alachua County remains under a burn ban first issued 11/18/2025, is operating under a local state of emergency declared April 20, and is preparing staffing and mutual‑aid resources as wildfire risk and drought indices remain high.
Chief Harold Theis of Alachua County Fire Rescue gave the Board an extended briefing on the county’s wildfire conditions and response plans, saying the county remains in a burn ban and continues to prepare for potential large brush fires.
“The burn ban…prohibits all outdoor burning. Any open flames, you cannot do in Alachua County,” Theis told commissioners, describing local rules that allow only enclosed cooking devices with chimneys or pipes and otherwise ban burn barrels, fireworks and debris burning.
Theis said the county’s burn ban was implemented 11/18/2025 and that the board’s April 20 local state of emergency remains in effect to signal seriousness and to provide procurement flexibility if needed. He listed several recent fires: two incidents on North…
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