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Burn Ban In Effect For Escambia County
October 2, 2020
A burn ban is in effect in Escambia County until further notice.
The burn ban was issued due the fuel load – the sheer amount of storm debris from Hurricane Sally. Additionally, when it’s burned, it can create adverse medical conditions for those with respiratory problems, according to Escambia Fire Rescue.
The following activities are prohibited by the ordinance in both the incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county: the carrying out of open burning including, but not limited to, campfires, bonfires, trash burning and other similar forms of incineration.
The following are exempt from the burn ban: outdoor cooking in barbecue grills, smokers or other outdoor stoves located at private residences and businesses, state permitted burns, fire department training, authorized fireworks displays, and fireworks sales allowed by state law.
Click or tap here to read the entire ordinance.
Comments
30 Responses to “Burn Ban In Effect For Escambia County”
We have a firepit for cooking…use only wood…hot dog and smores night…the cooking rack is like a mesh(ish) cover over the pit…can we legally do this? Wednesday the 21st?
I just wanted to clarify something, and before I do state it, like everyone else I have 8 bonfire’s worth of debris waiting for the ban to be lifted.
It seems to me the Majority of responses aren’t quite grasping why there would be a ban due to respiratory issues and feel it’s just due to people complaining.
It’s literally about the air quality which is measured regularly for pollen etc. When the air quality across the entire county reaches dangerous levels of anything that can be controlled well then they try to.
It’s not about your particular fire bothering a neighbor. It’s about 50,000 fires burning at once accross the county and literally affecting the counties air quality to the point of being hazardous. When we burn the smoke and particles accumulate and the breeze just pushes them around.
For instance, on a larger scale, if yellow stone volcano were to erupt a huge part of the catastrophe would be smoke and particles that literally would drift around the earth and block out the sun affecting most of the globe. The smoke doesnt just continue to rise till its off to space. It hits a level and sits till its blown elsewhere or sperated enough to not be a hazard anymore.
So when you see air quality issues please try to understand that its literally an air quality issue that affects everyone that lives in that area and once it climbs to dangerous levels it will affect you even if you dont have respiratory issues..
Like most of the earth’s current environmental problems, it’s a combination of too many individual people doing something that affects the environment on a mass scale. It was literally too many fires over a very short amount of time….
Tired of smelling smoke!!!!! Neighbor burns everyday. He’s not bbqing either. 4 ft from my fence. Night, day. Doesn’t matter to him. Absolutely no consideration for me and the family. Authorities have gotten involved but he still burns. I agree with a burn ban for residential areas
I have a mini forest in my back yard and no front yard to sit the debri because I live in a culdisac. Therefore I have no choice but to burn and now I can’t. I currently have a 20′ wide, 5′ high pile of wet leaves and limbs that has become home to lizards and bugs.
Sitting here looking at numerous small limb/leaf piles that have now gotten soaked due to the rain yesterday. Shame I couldn’t have already burned it when it was dry due to the burn ban. Now there will be much more smoke and I will be dealing with snakes and vermin. First time in 25 years that I am not already done with the debris clean up….
The amount of trees and brush have kept us busy working for the past two weeks. We have piled tarp after tarp out for ECUA and they have started picking up on Friday. We worked all day trying to get as much as possible out before they continue in the morning. I have no idea what we are going to do with the rest as I am sure they will not make a second run. We purchased 2 burn barrels today and have a cleared grassed 1/2 acre ajoining our home. .NOW A BURN BAN! WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSE TO DO WITH THE REST OF THE TREES AND BRUSH? I know the clean up is overwhelming for the County, but what are we suppose to do if we can only put small piles out weekly from here on. I also have fence pieces that I hope they will return to pick up! The workers seem to be selective. NOW ANOTHER HURRICAN FORCASTED FOR THE GULF!.
Keeping your windows shut if you have breathing problems so the rest of us can clean up our land isn’t a big deal, seems to me you just want a reason to gripe. As far as cleaning up ashes I’d rather clean that up than all these trees on my property.
The pile of leaves with the moisture underneath is creating mold so all the people griping about smoke what about the piles of leaves.
As far as the limbs being picked up it must be only 4 ft sections since I had a section left, even though it was probably no more than 5 to 6. If they don’t allow burning then don’t set a restriction on the size.
Well if this is what the county wants, then I’ll just move all of my debris by the road, on the road, wherever I can fit it, not on my property. Let’s put all the pressure on the county to clean it up and see how much there really is to deal with. Jesus be with yall
I was just burning debris, decided to take a break and was searching the net. Oh crap!!! I didn’t know it was a burn ban. On another note, if someone is burning and it’s disturbing you, just let them know, a decent person wouldn’t mind not disturbing someone else. I think it’s futile to be petty.
Re: Lisa
Residential burning is also regulated and enforced by the Florida Forest Service. Blackwater Forestry Center is responsible for Escambia, Okaloosa, and Santa Rosa Counties. Regardless of burn ban in effect, all residential burning must meet the regulations – which many residential areas do not.
Lol Lisa and sj y’all are yuppies some people actually like to get out side and work and burn stuff in their Own yard I don’t need someone telling me what to do in my yard if you don’t like it stay inside this burn ban is just stupid as he’ll y’all gotta get over yourself and stop acting like babies about everything people these days are just weak as crap get over it
“I have been hearing rumors that ECUA is instructing the debris trucks to only pick up 4 ft square bundles. Also, I have heard that the debris trucks will not pick up in gated communities.”
ECUA doesn’t pick up the debris…it’s FEMA contractors through Escambia County. They will pick up entire trees if they are on the right of way. Debris contractors cannot pick up in gated communities right away; I think it takes a liability/access type agreement. Then they can.
All you bitching about the burn ban are a bunch of babies. With no rain in sight for weeks it’s a smart move. Calm down. It won’t be forever and besides many are disrespectful when they do burn so I’m ok with it. I have yard debris myself.
What a bunch of bull. We are surrounded by homes burning the mess that Sally left behind. I have no problem with it, as i know it is needed. No one has attempted to pick up the mess at the road yet and i can hardly see around them when i try to pull out of my driveway. Our home is still wet from Sally so this is only because some one person complained to somebody with authority that they didn’t like the burning and instead of telling them sorry but this is a necessary evil they ban burning.
This is the stupidest thing ever. Right after a hurricane? I have an idea how about no chainsaws because of noise pollution? How about no trailers or hauling yard debris because somebody might be inconvenienced? I have already made about four 20×30x8 ft tall bonfires but I need to make lots more. My house is SURROUNDED by dry brush. I need to burn in a CONTROLLED fashion because I have hoses, water and a brain. I need to burn for my homes safety! I have probably another month of cutting and burning. I have already burned probably 5 times what I can fit out by the road besides ECUA has picked up guess how much brush by our roads? That’s right ZERO, NATTA NUTHIN’. What I can fit by the road is a drop in the bucket for me. Do we have politicians coming down from California because this sounds like a California decision? I wish I knew they would do this, because I burned the stuff farthest away first because that stuff was obstructing my driveway and I had no egress. Now I’m left with huge downed trees by my house. People like me are in danger because we are surrounded by dead wood and I have 7 HUGE Cypress trees down which is the best kindling known to man. I need to burn for MY SAFETY! IDIOTS!!!
Glad I burned all my yard trash last weekend. LOL
Yep I walk out yesterday morning and my brand new car just got wed had soot all over it like we had a major forest fire. I don’t mind smoke but when you need a OBA to breathe it’s getting a little out of hand.
“we want our fall bonfires and weinie roasts!”
Amen brother. So if i light up a fire in *something* like a fire ring and I cook a wiener(all beef, of course) then that’s now a primitive outdoor stove/grill and that’s allowed, right?
Lisa, you call 1-800-SNITCH
Re: Lisa, anytime you see a fire that isn’t supposed to be there call 911.
I think this is awesome. Having COPD myself I have had days when I went to work on my clean up in my yard but I couldn’t because a neighbor was burning and the wind wasn’t in my favor. Then I try again the next day and a different neighbor was burning and same problem. I think it is very unfair for one neighbor to keep another neighbor from being able to access their property. There was a lawsuit in south Florida years ago that was about one neighbor’s cigarette smoke keeping the other neighbor from being able to use his property. Same principle.
The other reason I like this ban is because people tend to not be safe or smart when they burn yard debris. They don’t have hoses, shovels and rakes at the ready, they burn to close to trees or buildings etc.
I totally get the idea of burning yard debris. If in the future people decide too, don’t do it on days where the humidity is super high and there is no wind so smoke fills up the neighborhood. Get the fire hot so it burns fast and hot makes the smoke leave quickly. Also, don’t leave the fire burning if you are not going to stay right there and attend it. Grab your garden hose a put it out and when you think you have it out, keep putting water on it ’cause it’s not out. Grab your shovel an flip the ashes then more water. Thanks.
If the ban was implemented for the high fuel load and high-risk weather conditions, it would make sense. No one wants to risk an out of control fire. As it is, preventing people from taking responsibility for their own clean-up and forcing them to use government services because some people may have adverse medical reactions is an overreaction. Perhaps it is a problem in Pensacola where the houses are piled on top of each other, but here in the north end we have plenty of fresh air to disapate the smoke. Besides, we want our fall bonfires and weinie roasts!
I have been hearing rumors that ECUA is instructing the debris trucks to only pick up 4 ft square bundles. Also, I have heard that the debris trucks will not pick up in gated communities.
William, would investigate these rumors please.
Thank you in advance!
I went out yesterday and came home to so much smoke around my home I couldn’t breathe! Also my whole back porch and patio covered in ash….. not looking forward to cleaning this up either since that is all I’ve been doing since the hurricane. I have lived in Molino/Cantonment Area my whole life. I have family and friends with respiratory issues that this burning is making really sick! I don’t mind occasional burning but if everyone starts burning their debris nobody will be able to breathe. You couldn’t even go outside without choking with the smoky air that was left by all the burning last two days and nights and is still in the air this AM. Some people were also burning after dark and also burning plastic/rubber which are both illegal I believe. Please everyone be aware that this burning could be dangerous for some people and not just a “yuppy” complaining and the Burn Ban is also for the whole area not just the “country”. For people who would love to open their windows in this beautiful fall weather, forget it! I understand that some people will have to burn some large piles due to difficult access areas, but they need to get proper permits.
What to do when neighbors are burning…???? Who do you call to report
People with respiratory issues, like myself, can stay inside and be just fine. People need to clear the debris, if you complain about that you’re a part of the problem.
So everyone has to wait until further notice to burn? I guess piles of yard debris will just grow a little bigger, instead of small piles that are easier manage. Government mandates at work again!! So I guess the county should step it up and get all the debris off the right-of-way since you can’t BURN!!
The county is picking up all of the debris from Sally. This means they have contracted all of the debris pickup with the Feds. That’s why they imposed a burn ban so quickly after being so wet. Now, you the citizen must follow their rule and comply so they can make the loot. Debris pickup should be contracted in a fair and quick manner after the storm. I had no problem with the county doing this at first but now they impose a burn ban for more $$$$$. Why can’t a person burn their small debris instead of having to make a thousand trips to the road with small leaves and twigs?
This is a good thing! Cool temps, windows up people enjoying the beautiful weather, and no smoke. Plus with all the dried debris piled up it reduces the chance of a fire getting out of hand. Now if people will just act in accordance with the ban.
..the greatest danger here is that all this debris and low humidity makes these piles of leaves , pine straw and limbs extremely volitale..a fire will spread very rapidly and will be hard to contain…the ban is needed until we get some moisture ..
Sounds backwards. People need to burn now, and you’re telling them no. Government knows best. The forestry service never cares about medical conditions when they prescribe burns. Some yuppy from the city must have moved to the county.