Seminole County under burn ban as wildfire risk rises

Seminole County residents who were planning a backyard fire, a debris burn or a weekend bonfire now have to stop. The county remains under a burn ban as dry conditions push wildfire risk higher across Central Florida, and the restriction applies countywide.

The county order prohibits open burning, including campfires, bonfires, trash burning and any other similar open incineration without authorization from the Florida Forest Service. Seminole County says the ban stays in effect for seven days before officials review whether to extend it or lift it based on weather projections. That leaves little room for confusion for anyone hoping to burn yard waste, light a fire pit or use an outdoor setup that involves open flame.

Enforcement falls to the Seminole County Fire Prevention Bureau, which handles the Florida Fire Prevention Code and local laws and ordinances adopted by the state and county. Residents who have questions about current burning rules can call the Florida Forest Service at 407-888-8760. Seminole County says updates on burn-ban status are posted on the county website, social media and local news outlets.

The ban is part of a wider dry-weather response, not just a temporary inconvenience. As of June 10, the Florida Forest Service listed Seminole among the counties under county-enacted burn bans, alongside Polk, Brevard and Osceola. The agency also notes that yard debris burning is already prohibited year-round in some counties by ordinance, another reason residents should check the rules before assuming a pile of branches can be burned safely.

The drought data show why officials are tightening the rules now. Seminole County’s drought page says 100% of the county’s population is affected by drought. Drought.gov lists Seminole County as having had the 36th driest April on record and the 14th driest year to date through January through April 2026. Florida Forest Service data for June 5 put the Orlando district at a Keetch-Byram Drought Index of 401, a level used to estimate how dry the soil and duff layers have become. The index rises each day without rain, which is why a small flame can turn into a brush fire much faster during a stretch like this.

Seminole County has issued similar burn-ban orders in 2023 and 2024, underscoring how quickly dry spells can return. For now, the message is direct: no open burning without permission, no trash fires, no bonfires, and no assuming the weather will stay quiet for long.