Palm Bay, FL – Brevard County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday evening to enact an immediate countywide burn ban, responding to a series of brush fires over the past two weekends and deteriorating drought conditions that officials say will trigger automatic restrictions within days. The proactive measure prohibits all open burning including bonfires, campfires, and yard waste incineration throughout incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county.
The Board of County Commissioners approved the emergency ban by a 5-0 vote during their February 10 meeting, acting ahead of the county’s 2017 ordinance that automatically implements burn restrictions once the Keetch-Byram Drought Index reaches 500 on the 800-point scale.
Drought Index Nearing Critical Threshold
The KBDI currently stands at 469 for Brevard County, approaching the threshold that would have triggered automatic restrictions under existing county code. County officials anticipate the index will exceed 500 within the next few days given current weather patterns and the absence of significant rainfall in forecasts.
“Due to ongoing dry weather conditions, Brevard County is at an increased risk for wildfires,” according to a county press release issued Tuesday evening. The commission’s decision to act immediately rather than waiting for the automatic trigger reflects the severity of recent fire activity and projections for continued dry conditions.
Recent Fire Activity Drives Decision
The burn ban follows brush fires that forced closures of Interstate 95 and required evacuation of homes during the February 1-2 weekend. A 170-acre wildfire near JA Bombardier Boulevard and Day Avenue SW in the area known as “The Compound” shut down both directions of I-95 from mile marker 166 at St. Johns Heritage Parkway to mile marker 173 at Malabar Road.
Palm Bay Fire Rescue, Brevard County Fire Rescue, Florida Forest Service, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Palm Bay Police Department, and Malabar Fire Rescue responded to contain the blaze, which burned an estimated 40 to 50 acres of heavily overgrown vacant lots interspersed with homes. The fire was 100 percent contained by late afternoon February 2, with no structural damage reported. Shifting winds repeatedly pushed flames into unburned vegetation, reigniting the fire and extending suppression operations across multiple days.
Additional brush fires occurred over the subsequent weekend, prompting commissioners to enact restrictions immediately rather than waiting for conditions to deteriorate further.
Freeze Damage Creates Elevated Fuel Loads
Recent extreme cold events from January 31 through February 2 have compounded fire risk beyond normal drought conditions. Temperatures dropped into the 20s across Brevard County, creating a hard freeze that “cured” grasses and light shrubs through ice crystal damage to plant cells.
Frost does not provide moisture to vegetation. Instead, the freeze damage renders plants highly flammable within hours of the temperature drop, creating significantly elevated fuel loads throughout the county. This freeze-damaged vegetation layer adds to fire risk independent of soil moisture levels measured by the drought index.
Red Flag Warning Compounds Concerns
A National Weather Service Red Flag Warning was in effect for Brevard County until 6:00 PM on Friday, February 6, citing west winds around 15 mph with gusts of 20 to 25 mph, relative humidity dropping to 25-35 percent, and critically dry conditions. The warning noted that “any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.”
This marked the first Red Flag Warning for the region since early 2023, according to National Weather Service meteorologists. Fire officials indicated that fire danger is expected to remain elevated for the next several days, with no significant precipitation in the forecast until late next week.
What the Burn Ban Prohibits
Under the countywide restriction, all open burning is prohibited throughout Brevard County including bonfires and campfires, yard waste burning, trash burning, and any other outdoor incineration not specifically authorized by the Florida Forest Service.
The ban does not apply to state-authorized prescribed burns conducted under Florida Forest Service permits, the use of barbecue grills for cooking, or permitted public fireworks displays and sales as allowed under state law.
Violations of county burn bans typically carry penalties including fines and potential misdemeanor charges under Florida statutes governing open burning during restricted periods.
Automatic Trigger System
The 2017 Brevard County ordinance establishes an automatic burn ban system tied to the Keetch-Byram Drought Index. When the KBDI county average exceeds 500, restrictions trigger without requiring separate commission action. The ban remains in effect until the index drops below 450 for five consecutive days, at which point the county manager or designated policy group may lift the prohibition.
The KBDI measures soil moisture deficit on a scale from zero (saturated) to 800 (extreme drought). Readings above 500 indicate severe drought conditions highly favorable to wildfire ignition and rapid spread.
Regional Drought Conditions
Brevard County has received only 1.1 inches of rain since November 1, 2025, creating a rainfall deficit of 4.1 inches according to the South Florida Water Management District. The severe drought classification now extends from Brevard south through central Palm Beach County and west toward Lake Okeechobee.
Neighboring counties have enacted their own burn restrictions in response to similar conditions. Okeechobee County issued a burn ban on February 2, 2026, with penalties of up to $500 in fines or 60 days in county jail for violations. St. Lucie and Indian River counties also implemented burn bans as of February 9.
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue has issued a no-burn recommendation, noting their Keetch-Byram Drought Index reading of 635. Fire Marshal Chief David DeRita emphasized that recent frost events worsened conditions because frost damages vegetation without providing moisture, making damaged plants more susceptible to ignition.
Historical Context: 2008 Mother’s Day Fires
The current burn ban exists precisely to prevent another catastrophic event like the 2008 Mother’s Day fires that struck Palm Bay under similarly dry and windy conditions. On Mother’s Day in May 2008, a series of fast-moving brush fires destroyed 33 homes and damaged another 236, with total losses of approximately $34 million in Palm Bay alone.
The fires began with a small ignition in a wooded lot along Jupiter Boulevard but quickly escalated across multiple neighborhoods as flames jumped roads and moved through overgrown tracts. The sustained response required a large multi-agency mobilization with firefighting units from across the region, including teams from Kennedy Space Center, Patrick Air Force Base, Orlando, and Jacksonville.
Fire Safety Recommendations
County fire officials recommend residents take the following precautions during the burn ban period. Clear dry debris from around homes and maintain a 30-foot defensible space around structures by keeping grass mowed regularly and removing dead vegetation. Before the burn ban, residents could legally burn yard waste if they met required setbacks, but that option is now prohibited until conditions improve.
Residents should avoid spark-producing activities including outdoor use of lawn mowers, chainsaws, and welding equipment during periods of elevated fire danger. Cigarettes should never be discarded from vehicles. Vehicles with hot catalytic converters should not be parked in areas with dry grass.
Keep water sources readily available and ensure fire-extinguishing equipment is accessible. Space heaters and outdoor heating elements require extreme caution, as a single spark can ignite cured vegetation surrounding residential lots.
The combination of county burn ban, deteriorating drought conditions, freeze-damaged fuel loads, and forecast for continued dry weather creates what fire officials describe as critical fire weather conditions. The burn ban will remain in effect until KBDI readings drop below threshold levels following sustained rainfall, which is not currently forecast for the region.
