A wildfire burns at the University of North Florida campus. | Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Departmenbt
Published on April 16, 2026 at 11:27 am
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Clay County has joined three other Northeast Florida counties that are banning burning due to an extreme drought.
Clay County officials say dry conditions will continue for the next several weeks, creating a high threat of forest and brush fires.
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Nassau, Baker and Putnam counties are also under a burn ban, and outdoor burning is prohibited year-round without a permit in Duval County.
Clay County officials said Mother Nature had kept concerns at bay until now.
“We received enough rainfall to keep drought conditions from becoming a safety concern,” county spokesperson Laura Christmas said in a news release. “Now those conditions are considered extreme, and they’re expected to worsen over the next several weeks.”
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What burning is banned?
The ban means no outdoor burning anywhere outside the city limits of Green Cove Springs, Orange Park, Penney Farms, and Keystone Heights. It also means no campfires or firepits, burning of yard debris or any outdoor burning at all.
Use of a barbecue grill is allowed if food is cooked, officials say.
The ban will remain in place until there is enough rain to relieve the drought. Violation of the ban is a second-degree misdemeanor.
Burns authorized by the Florida Forest Service are allowed under this ban. They are heavily monitored and secured with appropriate contractor equipment.
