Volusia County Fire Rescue Lifts Burn Ban

Posted On: March 5, 2026

Volusia County Fire Rescue has lifted the outdoor burn ban for the county's unincorporated areas, Oak Hill, Lake Helen, and Pierson effective immediately. The burn ban has been in effect since Feb 20.

"Conditions have improved over the past week to allow the burn ban to be lifted," said Chief Joe King. "However, we ask residents to continue practicing wildfire safety because some areas of the county, particularly northwest Volusia, remain drier than others. While recent rains have helped improve conditions, the region is still experiencing a long-term drought."

All open burning must be in a noncombustible container or in piles 8 feet in diameter or smaller, and follow these rules:

• The burn must be conducted on a residential property with no more than two family units.
• The pile or container must be at least 25 feet from any wildlands, brush or combustible container; 50 feet from a house; 150 feet from other occupied buildings; and 50 feet from paved public roads.
• The fire must be started after 9 a.m. and extinguished no later than one hour before sunset.
• The fire must be attended at all times with fire extinguishing equipment, such as a water hose and shovel at a minimum.
• The fire must not cause a nuisance.

Property owners must receive a permit from the Florida Forest Service if they are burning outside of these regulations, and they should also note that they will be held accountable if their burning gets out of control even when there is not a burn ban in place.

It is always illegal to burn household garbage, paper products, treated lumber, plastics, rubber materials, tires, pesticides, and paint and aerosol containers.