OKEECHOBEE – Thanks to recent rainfall, Okeechobee County is no longer under a burn ban.

At their June 19 meeting, Okeechobee County Commissioners lifted the county burn ban. Okeechobee County Public Safety Director/Fire
Chief Earl Wooten. said recent rainfall changed the conditions and a burn ban is no longer needed.

Commission Chair David Hazellief said the short-lived burn ban was needed when it was passed on June 6.

Okeechobee County residents can now resume outdoor burning, but must follow all safety guidelines:

• The pile must be 25 feet from forest and your house, 50 feet from paved public roads, and 150 feet from other occupied buildings.

• The burn pile must be less than 8-feet in diameter or fit into a non-combustible container. Burning is permitted after 9 a.m. and must be extinguished 1 hour before sunset.

• Burning must not be left unattended.

• Keep a water hose or shovel handy in case your fire escapes.

• Piles large than 8-feet in diameter require a permit from the Florida Forest Service.

"We appreciate your cooperation during the burn ban. As a reminder, always exercise caution when burning outdoors," said  Wooten. 

For more information, please contact Okeechobee County Fire Rescue at 863- 763-5544, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

As of June 19, Florida counties still under a burn ban included: Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Orange, Pasco, Polk and Volusia. According to Florida Forest Service, none of those counties are currently under high risk of fires. It is likely those counties will relax the burn bans at upcoming  meetings.