Flagler County became the latest to issue a burn ban Monday.
- Flagler County put up huge red signs for burn ban
- Ban includes fireworks, vegetation or debris burning, charcoal grills
- 8 of 9 Central Florida counties under burn bans
County officials put up huge red signs on every major roadway throughout the county to make sure everyone is aware no burning is allowed.
Homeowner Edward Stark would normally burn in his yard every other day.
"We burned limbs, leaves, trash. There was a lot of debris around from the hurricanes," Stark said. "We were burning that, rather than just put it on the side of the road. It was easier just to burn it."
Now it's so dry and fire risks are so high, Flager County Deputy Fire chief Joe King says they had to enact a countywide burn ban.
"With all of the active fires we're seeing down south, what's happened is a lot of the resources are going out of the county," King said.
Fire officials say more than 1,700 fires have burned more than 100,000 acres across the state since January.
"Basically all open burning is cease and desist," King said. "No fireworks, no vegetation, even we went as far as no charcoal barbecue grills."
Deputy Chief King says that's to keep people safe, and Stark says he'd wouldn't have it any other way.
"Even without the burn ban, I wouldn't be burning anything," Stark said. "But with the burn ban, I sure as heck won't be burning anything."
They banned grills in local parks as well.
The deputy chief says the ban will be in place for at least the next 7 days, but will re-evaluate to see if it needs to remain in place.
If you don't comply with the ban you can face up to 60 days in jail or a $500 fine.