Burn bans issued amid ongoing drought conditions

Danny Federico editor@riverbendnews.org Burn bans are in effect across Hamilton and Lafayette Counties as drought conditions and elevated wildfire risk continue to impact North Florida. As of Monday, April 20, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and the Division of Emergency Management have enacted a countywide burn ban due to high fire danger and increasingly dry conditions. The ban prohibits nearly all forms of outdoor burning that have not been specifically authorized by the Florida Forest Service. Under the restrictions, residents are not allowed to burn yard debris such as leaves, branches or vegetation, nor are they permitted to burn household trash or constru