Published: November 25, 2025
Bartow, Fla. (Nov. 25, 2025) — As Polk County experiences unseasonably dry weather conditions due to a prolonged lack of rainfall throughout the summer and into the fall, Polk County officials issued a burn ban effective Nov. 25. The ban includes unincorporated Polk County and the following municipalities: Auburndale, Bartow, Davenport, Dundee, Fort Meade, Frostproof, Haines City, Lake Alfred, Lake Wales Lakeland and Winter Haven.
The burn ban is determined using the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI). The KBDI is a continuous reference scale, ranging from 0 to 800. It assesses the moisture content from no moisture deficiency (0) to maximum drought conditions (800) of the soil. This helps predict the potential for wildfires.
Utilizing the KBDI, the process of a burn ban begins once more than 50% of the county reaches over 500 on the index. Polk County’s current daily reading is 53% over the 500 benchmark with a countywide average of 507.
The burn ban prohibits:
• Campfires;
• Bonfires;
• Unpermitted controlled burns;
• Burning of yard and household trash;
• Burning of organic debris;
• Igniting of fireworks; and
• Noncommercial burning of materials, other than for religious or ceremonial purposes, which is not contained in a barbecue grill or barbecue pit, and the total fuel area cannot exceed 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height.
”After examining the latest KBDI data, we are issuing a burn ban. This ban is a preventative measure to make sure we can keep the community and our members as safe as possible,” said Fire Chief Shawn Smith. “This is an unusual time of the year for a burn ban but due to the abnormal lack of rainfall this summer and fall, it is necessary. PCFR asks for your help in keeping Polk County safe by not burning until the end of the ban.”
Anyone who refuses to comply or violates this burn ban shall be in violation of Polk County Ordinance 08-015 and can be punished by a fine not to exceed $500 or by imprisonment not to exceed 60 days in the county jail or both.
Polk County officials may repeal the burn ban when deemed safe.