Polk County is continuing the pause on a countywide burn ban through April 24. The burn ban was suspended on April 9.
“After continuously monitoring the KBDI and speaking with stakeholders around the county. I decided to extend the burn ban suspension for another week,” Polk County Fire Chief Shawn Smith said in a news release. “We are looking at longer term solutions for either an extended suspension or complete repeal but that is something that will come at a later date.”
Polk County’s Keetch-Byram Drought Index countywide average is 386 with 93% of the county under 500 as of April 15. The KBDI is a continuous reference scale, ranging from 0 to 800. It assesses the soil’s moisture content from no moisture deficiency (0) to maximum drought conditions (800).
“We want you to continue enjoying your recreational fires but always burn responsibility and keep a water source nearby,” Smith said.
Despite the suspension of the burn ban, anyone who sees a potentially dangerous burn should report it to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at 863-298-6200 or call 9-1-1 if life or property is in immediate danger, the release said.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk County extends pause on burn ban through April 24
Reporting by Gary White, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
