(TALLAHASSEE, FL.) - Leon County has issued a second week-long extension for its burn ban.
Photo Credit: X.com
During the ban, all types of burning are prohibited and can face a punishment of jail time and a $500 fine.
Cooking food using a grill or wood smoker is an exception and remains legal through the ban. However, during the ban, it is more important than ever to monitor your grill constantly.
As of right now, 20 counties in Florida are under a similar burn ban.
Scientists measure moisture in the soil using the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI). The scale goes from 0 to 800, with 800 being desert-like soil, and it aims to quantify how much water is missing from the soil. A rating of 500 and above indicates a severe drought condition, as the chance of a small spark or fire quickly spiraling increases.
Several areas in Tallahassee have a KBDI rating above 500, marking a serious risk. Leon County is still at a Level 4 exceptional drought, the highest level possible on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Duff is the layer above soil, made up of partially decomposed leaves and twigs, among other materials. In a Level 4 drought, the duff becomes hydrophobic, meaning fires are more likely and harder to extinguish.
In Florida, the ability to enforce a burn ban is tied to a state of emergency, which the city will have to renew every week.
With a low humidity forecast, it is likely the burn ban will continue to be extended into the coming weeks. Tallahassee is eight inches of rain behind its 30-year average (year to date), and needs fifteen inches to get past the current drought
The current crisis also extends to water.
The Suwannee River Water Management District, which neighbors Tallahassee, has created drought-related legislation. The management district has limited residents to once-weekly use of the irrigation system and has placed limits on local homeowners' associations. Homeowners' associations mandating specific lawn conditions during the drought are currently prevented from doing so.
Similar to the Suwannee River, the Ochlockonee River in Tallahassee is also experiencing record lows.
Although most of north Florida is experiencing drought conditions, Tallahassee is in the worst position. Several areas in Tallahassee were measured at 650 on the KBDI scale, where 200 to 400 is more common across Florida.
The last time Tallahassee experienced a comparable drought was in 2012, and it was so severe that Lake Talquin had almost completely shut down boat access due to receding water levels. The most memorable part of the 2012 drought was the ‘County Line Fire’, a wildfire that spread over 35,000 acres in May of that year.
Even closer to home was the ‘Natural Bridge Fire’ in Wakulla County.
The previous drought season was marked by wildfires, and there are reports of an uncontained wildfire in Liberty County, and dozens of bush fires in Tallahassee already this April.
If you have any questions or concerns, please comment and email me at jason.f@lead4earth.org
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