01/22/2026
Update : Burn Ban expired.
Jefferson County Fire Rescue has enacted a ban on all outdoor burning until such time as lifted by the Fire Chief.
Therefore, the setting of fires to any debris piles, grass, brush, or forest covered land, unless authorized by the Florida Forest Service, shall constitute a violation of law.
This Burn Ban shall not prohibit burning permitted by the Florida Forest Service or ordinary grilling.
Chief Derrick Burrus
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-0/
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, FLORIDA,
MAKING CERTAIN FINDINGS; DECLARING A LOCAL
STATE OF EMERGENCY; IMPOSING A BURN BAN;
PROVIDING FOR EXEMPTIONS, ENFORCEMENT,
SEVERABILITY AND A N EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, multiple brush fires have been reported over the last few weeks, and weather
conditions over the next seven (7) days are expected t o continue promoting rapid fire growth; and
WHEREAS, current conditions and potential fires have the capacity to pose a significant,
imminent, and dangerous threat t o the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Jefferson
County, Florida; and
WHEREAS, due to dry, drought-stricken, and windy conditions-and the resulting threat
of wildfires within Jefferson County-emergency measures are required t o protect the health,
safety, welfare, and property of Jefferson County citizens and visitors; and
WHEREAS, these conditions recently resulted in a large brush fire within the County; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Chapter 252, Florida Statutes, Jefferson County is
authorized to take whatever prudent action that is necessary to ensure health, safety, and welfare
o f the community; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 31-16 o f the Code, in the unavailability of a quorum of
the Board, the Chairman of the Board ("Chairman") i s authorized to declare a local state of
emergency whenever that person shall determine that a natural, technological, or manmade disaster
or emergency has occurred or that the occurrence or threat o f one is imminent and requires
immediate and expeditious action; and
WHEREAS, the Chairman has determined that the conditions described herein require
immediate and expeditious action, there are no imminent scheduled meetings of the Board of
County Commissioners ("Board") and a quorum o f the Board is not currently available to meet ir
time to take the necessary action to respond to the emergency conditions, and in order to protect
the health, safety, and welfare o f the community, i t is in the best interests of the County for the
Chairman to declare a local state of emergency.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AND ORDERED by the Board of County
Commissioners of Jefferson County, Florida:
SECTION 1. RECITALS. herein by reference.
The above recitals are true and correct and incorporated
SECTION 2. LOCAL STATE O F EMERGENCY. A local state o f emergency is
hereby declared pursuant t o Section 252.38(3), Florida Statutes, and Section 31-16 o f the Code.
Such declaration is made by the Chairman, pursuant to his authority under Section 31-16 of the
Code. Subsequently. this Resolution shall be presented t o the Boad o f County Commissioners for
ratification and approval.
SECTION 3. BURN BAN. During the local state o f emergency, the following activities
are prohibited i n all of Jefferson County:
(A) A person violates this order if he/she burns any combustible material i n an outdoor
area. including but not limited to, any outdoor burning of yard waste, household paper products.
bonfires, campfires. warming fires, outdoor fireplaces, and cooking fires.
(B) A person violates this order i t he/she engages in any outdoor activity which creates
flames or sparks that could ignite a fire. including but not limited to, the lighting of fireworks.
sparklers, or other incendiary devices.
SECTION 3 . EXEMPTIONS. The following activities are exempt from the prohibition
proscribed i n Section 3: (1) The cooking of food completely contained within an enclosed gas o r
charcoal grill continuously attended b y a responsible adult: (2) Agricultural. silvicultural. o r land-
clearing burns conducted pursuant to burning authorization issued b y the Florida Forest Service
with adequate fire suppression equipment and personnel on site: (3) Properly permitted fireworks
displays conducted by a municipality or the County, with appropriate fire suppression measures in
place: (4) Emergency flares discharged o n navigable waters, lakes. o r rivers: and (5) Firefighter
training conducted by Jefferson County or any municipality within its geographic boundaries o r
the state or federal governments.
SECTION 5. ENFORCEMENT. A violation of this Declaration constitutes a second-
degree misdemeanor under Sections 775.082 or 775.083. Florida Statutes. as provided by Section
252.50, Florida Statutes, and is subject to applicable penalties set forth i n Section 31-23 o f the
Code. Upon notification o f a suspected unauthorized outdoor fire. Jefferson County Fire Rescue
shall respond t o the scene and take immediate measures t o contain and extinguish the fire.
Violators shall reimburse Jefferson County and any responding agencies for all response and fire
suppression costs.
SECTION 6. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Resolution i s deemed invalid.
the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 7. EFECTIVE DATE. This Resolution shali become effective immediately
upon its adoption. This declared Local State o f Emergency shall continue to be in effect for seven
(7) days and may be extended by the designated county official as set forth i n Section 31-16 o f the
Code i n 7-day increments as necessary.
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED, o n this the 22 day o f January, 2026.
BOARD O F COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, FLORIDA
ATTEST: By: Benjamin White
Its: Chairman BOCO
Cecil "Trey" Hightower, Ex Officio Clerk to the Board
• APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Evan Rosenthal, County Attorney
