FLORIDA — Polk County on Friday issued a burn ban, joining most of the rest of Central Florida.

The ban includes campfires, bonfires, yard and trash fires, construction debris, unpermitted controlled burns and the lighting of fireworks. It does not include barbecue grills or barbecue pits smaller than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet deep.

More than 50% of Polk County is averaging over 501 on the Keetch-Byram Drought Index. The KBDI index is a reference scale used by the Florida Forest Service to assess the likelihood and severity of brush fires. The scale begins at zero, which reflects no danger, and rises to 800, which reflects extreme danger.

Brevard County officials on Thursday joined Orange and Seminole counties in implementing recent burn bans.

Brevard's ban covers open burning such as bonfires, campfires, trash burning and other incineration. It does not include state-permitted burns, the use of barbecue grills, authorized public fireworks displays and fireworks sales, which are authorized by state law. 

Orange County on Wednesday issued a burn ban. Exceptions in Orange also include barbecue grills and pits described in Section 18-7 of Orange County Code, or any other valid state- or county-authorized burn.

Under Orange County’s Fire Prevention and Protection ordinance, and in many other counties, burn bans are automatically instituted when the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) meets or exceeds 500. In addition, rain is not in the current forecast. Currently, the drought index in much of Central Florida is between 500 and 549.

The burn bans will lift automatically when the drought index for individual counties drops below 500 for seven consecutive days.

Seminole County on Tuesday announced its burn ban, prohibiting all outdoor burning that has not been permitted by the Florida Forest Service. Bonfires, campfires and the burning of yard debris are included in the ban.

Osceola and Sumter counties also have burn bans in effect.

Lake County has a permanent ban on open burning, but authorization is not required to burn yard waste when required setbacks are met and there are no local, city or county ordinances in place that prohibit burning.