Leon County Issues Burn Ban Amid Red Flag Warning, Extreme Drought
Leon County has declared a Local State of Emergency and issued a temporary countywide burn ban after the National Weather Service in Tallahassee issued a Red Flag Warning for the area and surrounding counties, citing dangerously low humidity and high winds on top of Exceptional drought conditions already affecting the region. The action is intended to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires and protect lives and property across Leon County.
“In an abundance of caution, this temporary burn ban is an important step to protect lives, homes, and property across Leon County,” said Leon County Commission Chairman Christian Caban. “Our fire experts are asking all residents to do their part — avoid any outdoor burning, report any signs of fire immediately, and help us look out for the safety of our first responders who are on the front lines. We will continue to monitor conditions closely and take actions to keep our community safe.”
The burn ban takes effect at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 27, 2026, and remains in place through 5 p.m. on Friday, April 3, 2026, unless extended or rescinded by subsequent action.
Why now
The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has issued a Red Flag Warning for Leon County and four neighboring fire weather zones, in effect from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, March 28. During that period, northeast winds near 15 mph with gusts of 25 to 30 mph will combine with relative humidity as low as 25 percent, creating conditions in which any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. A separate Fire Weather Watch covers southeast Alabama, southwest Georgia and most of the Florida Panhandle for the same period, with the National Weather Service indicating that an expansion of the Watch into the Florida Big Bend and/or an upgrade to further Red Flag Warnings is possible.
These warnings come on top of an already critical drought. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 100 percent of the region is experiencing Severe drought or worse, with Extreme to Exceptional drought (D3–D4) across much of the Florida Big Bend and Panhandle, including Leon County. No significant rainfall is expected over the next seven days. Nearby counties, including Calhoun County and Liberty County, have also enacted burn bans in response to wildfires and similar conditions.
What is prohibited
During the burn ban, all open burning in Leon County that is not specifically authorized by the Florida Forest Service is prohibited, including but not limited to:
Burning of yard debris such as leaves, branches and other vegetative waste
Land-clearing fires, brush piles and similar site-preparation burns
Campfires, bonfires, fire pits and similar recreational or ceremonial fires on public or private property
Burning of household trash, construction debris or other solid waste
Use of burn barrels or similar devices for outdoor burning
What is still allowed
The burn ban does not prohibit:
Use of gas, propane, charcoal or electric grills and smokers for cooking, as long as they are attended and fully extinguished after use
Indoor fireplaces, wood stoves or similar appliances used inside a structure in accordance with applicable codes
Burns conducted or expressly authorized by the Florida Forest Service, including permitted agricultural or land-clearing burns that follow all state laws and permit conditions
Firefighting, emergency or training activities conducted by or under the direction of Leon County, the City of Tallahassee Fire Department or the Florida Forest Service
Enforcement and ongoing review
Violations of the temporary burn ban may be subject to enforcement under applicable County ordinances and state law, including fines and other penalties as provided by law.
Leon County Emergency Management will continue to coordinate with the Florida Forest Service and local fire services to monitor fire danger and drought conditions. The burn ban may be adjusted or lifted in accordance with technical recommendations from fire experts.
A copy of the signed Local Emergency Proclamation can be found online on the County's Emergency Information Portal.
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