Brevard County Lifts Burn Ban Due to Drought Index Falling After Recent Storm Activity
By Space Coast Daily // April 30, 2020
Ban has been in place since march
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Due to the recent storm activity, the current mean average Drought Index for Brevard County has fallen below 450. As a result, the ban on open burning and the use of fireworks is no longer in effect.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index(KBDI) runs from zero, which is totally saturated, to 750-plus, which is desert-like conditions.
The Brevard County average on Thursday was 416 on the KBDI scale. The Board of County Commissioners, Brevard County Fire Rescue officials, Brevard County Emergency Management and the Division of Forestry will continue to monitor conditions to determine the need for further bans.
Though the KBDI has dropped into the low 400s, there is still a potential for wildfires to develop. Brevard County Fire Rescue urges citizens to be aware of their surroundings when burning yard waste or using fireworks.
In order to reduce the risk of being affected by wildfire, residents are encouraged to create a defensible space of at least 30 feet around their homes by keeping the grass mowed regularly and cutting away vegetation.
Before burning, please check the forecast weather conditions first and never burn on days for which high winds or low humidity are forecasts.
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