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Hernando County fire chief says burn ban remains as department monitors conditions
Summary
Hernando County Fire Chief Paul Hasmeyer told the Brooksville City Council the county has a burn ban in place since Jan. 8 because of early dry weather; recent rain has eased some brush-fire activity but staff are coordinating with the U.S. Forest Service before any lifting of the ban.
Hernando County Fire Chief Paul Hasmeyer told the Brooksville City Council the countywide burn ban, in place since Jan. 8, remains necessary while officials monitor drought and weather conditions.
"We've had a couple of bouts of rain, which has helped dramatically, and we'll be monitoring over the next week or so to see if there's any possibility of lifting the burn ban," Hasmeyer said. He added that many brush fires are caused by human activity and urged residents to comply with the ban until conditions improve.
Hasmeyer also summarized department activity, saying emergency medical calls, vehicle crashes and fires have kept crews busy and that the department is coordinating with the U.S. Forest Service and other partners to track risk. He said the department provided monthly reports to countywide staff and to Brooksville leadership to show the scale of operations and city-specific statistics.
The update came during the council's presentations portion; no formal action by the council was required. Council members thanked the chief for the briefing and reiterated support for the burn ban to reduce the risk of human-caused wildland fires.
The council did not set a date for any follow-up vote; Hasmeyer said the department will continue to assess conditions and advise local officials.
