Burn Ban in Effect for Madison County

Multiple brush fires have been reported over the last few weeks, and weather conditions over the next seven (7) days are expected to continue promoting rapid fire growth; and current conditions and potential fires have the capacity to pose a significant, imminent, and dangerous threat to the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Madison County, Florida. Due to hot, dry, drought-stricken, and windy conditions—and the resulting threat of wildfires within Madison County—emergency measures are required to protect the health, safety, welfare, and property of Madison County citizens and visitors; and in accordance with Chapter 252, Florida Statutes, Madison County is authorized to take whatever prudent action is necessary to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the community.

A local state of emergency is hereby declared pursuant to Section 252.38(3), Florida Statutes.

During the local state of emergency, the following activities are prohibited in all of Madison County:

     (A) A person violates this order if he/she burns any combustible material in an outdoor area, including but not limited to, any  outdoor burning of yard waste, household paper products, bonfires, campfires, warming fires, outdoor fireplaces, and cooking fires.

     (B) A person violates this order if he/she engages in any outdoor activity which creates flames or sparks that could ignite a fire, including but not limited to, the lighting of fireworks, sparklers, or other incendiary devices.

The following activities are exempt from the prohibition proscribed in Section 3:
     (1) The cooking of food completely contained within an enclosed gas or charcoal grill continuously attended by a responsible adult;
     (2) Agricultural, silvicultural, or land-clearing burns conducted pursuant to burning authorization issued by the Florida Forest Service with adequate fire suppression equipment and personnel on site;
     (3) Properly permitted fireworks displays conducted by a municipality or the County, with appropriate fire suppression measures in place;
     (4) Emergency flares discharged on navigable waters, lakes, or rivers; and
     (5) Firefighter training conducted by Madison County or any municipality within its geographic boundaries or the state or federal governments.

Any violation of this Declaration constitutes a second-degree misdemeanor under Section 252.47, Florida Statutes, and is subject to enforcement under Section 252.50 with applicable penalties set forth in Sections 775.082 or 775.083, Florida Statutes. Upon notification of a suspected unauthorized outdoor fire, Madison County Fire Rescue shall respond to the scene and take immediate measures to contain and extinguish the fire. Violators shall reimburse Madison County and any responding agencies for all costs of response and fire suppression.

This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption. This declared Local State of Emergency shall continue to be in effect for seven (7) days and may be extended by the County Manager in 7-day increments as necessary.

PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED, on this the 22nd day of April, 2026.

Full Document Available Here: Resolution 2026-04-22 Burn Ban LSE