Flagler County issues burn ban to protect against wildfire threat

Published on February 09, 2026

February 6, 2026 – Flagler County enacted a burn ban effective 5 p.m. Friday (February 6) and declared a state of local emergency to do so. The ban remains in effect for seven days.

“The conditions have become favorable for rapid fire growth, so this action will help reduce our community’s risk,” said Flagler County Fire Rescue Chief Michael Tucker. “In addition to the ban on burning, remember that a good offense is the best defense. Clear the area around your house of anything that will go up in flames easily – including stacks of firewood, portable propane tanks, and dead, dry vegetation.”

The burn ban prohibits the following:

• Use, ignition, or discharge of fireworks, sparklers, flares, or other items containing any “explosive compound”
• Open burning, including campfires, fire pits, and similar containers
• Throwing matches, cigarettes, or other burning materials from vehicles
• Parking vehicles with catalytic converters in high grassy areas

However, the use of outdoor cookers, grills, and similarly purposed cooking equipment and structures are only allowed when continuously attended by an adult.

Flagler County is taking this action for a variety of reasons, including: Flagler County is currently experiencing severe drought conditions; the Keetch Byram Drought Index (KBDI) level is increasing daily; and, there is no significant rainfall forecast for the next seven days.

The rule of thumb for taking personal protective measures, accepted by a variety of fire prevention agencies, including the National Fire Protection Association, is that all flammable items within 30 feet of a structure should be removed. Homeowners should clear roofs, eaves, gutters, wood decks and patios of leaves, needles, and other debris.

“Additionally, do not store things under decks or porches, and consider using rocks or gravel in those areas instead grass or mulch,” Tucker said. “Wood-driven fires, like brushfires, create embers that can be carried quite far, and tend to find their way to the same nooks and crannies where leaves accumulate.”

Barbecue coals should be fully extinguished before adding them to garbage receptacles.

“Please take this burn ban seriously,” Tucker said. “It’s been about a year since we’ve had one in Flagler County, so please heed our warnings.”

To see the entirety of the burn ban restrictions, please visit www.FlaglerCounty.gov/emergency and click on Emergency Notices.

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