Burn bans are in effect throughout Central Florida because of a dry spell which has created conditions which could lead to fires.
- Seminole, Osceola counties under burn ban
- Dry conditions reported in Central Florida
- Violating the burn ban could mean a fine
On Thursday, the Keetch Bryam Drought Index, KBDI, reported Osceola County is experiencing the driest conditions in Central Florida. However, other counties like, Orange, Seminole and Brevard are also experiencing severe dry spells.
"If we have a fire with the conditions we have today, even though it's only minor, wind it could really whip up and cause us a lot of issues," said Osceola Fire Rescue Chief Daniel McAvoy. "I mean an open fire could spread even in a small grassy area."
On Wednesday, Osceola County enacted its burn ban. According to Chief McAvoy, anyone found in violation of the ban could face a $500 fine.
"Please put out the fire, because you are not only saving yourself, your campground, but you are also saving the people in the trailer next to you," said Kathy Morrison, manager at Great Oak RV Resort, to campers on Thursday.
Managing dozens of campers at the Great Oak RV resort isn't easy any day of the week. But for Morrison, her job gets busier when a burn ban is in place because she has to routinely monitor that no campers are making any fires.
"I do my rounds two or three times a night, and do my rounds around two or three in the morning," Morrison said.
McAvoy says their fire rescuers do not want to fine people. They just want to make sure people understand how important it is to avoid starting a fire.
Morrison says she has the same goal and will continue to do her nightly searches for smoke at the RV resort.