Winter Haven Fire Chief Drew Neubrand has announced that the City of Winter Haven has issued a Burn Ban following the Polk County Burn Ban issued November 26, 2025.
We have had extremely dry conditions and the risk of outside fires spreading are far too great of a risk.
It is imperative for residents to take heed to this ban and report any suspicious behavior you may see.
This post will be updated when the burn ban is lifted. The full declaration is below:
DECLARATION OF FIRE DEPARTMENT BURN BAN NO.
WHEREAS, Polk County has experienced dry weather conditions for an extensive period of time because of the lack of rainfall;
WHEREAS, over fifty percent (50%) of Polk County is averaging over 500 on the Keetch-Byram Drought Index;
WHEREAS, Polk County Ordinance No. 08-015 authorizes the Fire Chief or the Fire Chief’s Designee to declare a Fire Department Burn Ban during periods in which the atmospheric conditions increase risk in brush fires and uncontrolled fires;
WHEREAS, the current atmospheric conditions increase the risk of bush fires and uncontrolled fires throughout Polk County;
WHEREAS, the increase in risk of brush fires and uncontrolled fires are a threat to the public health, safety and general welfare of Polk County; and
WHEREAS, there are no signs of abatement of these dangerous fire conditions in the near future.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT DECLARED BY THE POLK COUNTY FIRE CHIEF:
PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF POLK COUNTY ORDINANCE No. 08-015, AS AMENDED, A FIRE DEPARTMENT BURN BAN IS HEREBY DECLARED WITHIN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF POLK COUNTY AND THE FOLLOWING MUNICIPALITIES: AUBURNDALE, BARTOW, FORT MEADE, DAVENPORT, DUNDEE, FORT MEADE, FROSTPROOF, HAINES CITY, LAKE ALFRED, LAKE WALES, LAKELAND, AND WINTER HAVEN. THIS DECLARATION SHALL PROHIBIT ALL OPEN AND RECREATIONAL FIRES UNLESS AUTHORIZED BY THE FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE.
OPEN AND RECREATIONAL FIRES HEREBY INCLUDE, WITHOUT LIMITATION:
- Campfires;
- Bonfires;
- unpermitted controlled burns;
- burning of yard and household trash;
- burning of organic debris;
- igniting of fireworks; and
- noncommercial burning of material, other than for religious or ceremonial purposes, which is not contained in a barbecue grill or barbecue pit and the total fuel area exceeds 3ft in diameter and 2ft in height.
The Fire Marshal upon request by a property owner may approve open fires for agricultural purposes for a specific location and time period. The Fire Marshal may impose necessary conditions on such open fires to minimize the risk of brush fires and uncontrolled fires.
This Burn Ban shall not prohibit burning permitted by the Florida Forest Service or firework displays approved by the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
FURTHERMORE, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF POLK COUNTY ORDINANCE NO. 08-015, AS AMENDED, ANY PERSON WHO REFUSES TO COMPLY OR VIOLATES THIS BURN BAN SHALL BE IN VIOLATION OF POLK COUNTY ORDINANCE NO. 08-015, AS AMENDED, AND SHALL BE PUNISHED ACCORDING TO LAW, AND UPON SUCH CONVICTION FOR SUCH OFFENSE, SHALL BE PUNISHED BY A FINE NOT TO EXCEED FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($500.00) OR BY IMPRISONMENT BY A TERM NOT TO EXCEED SIXTY (60) DAYS IN THE COUNTY JAIL OR BOTH.
DATED this 26 day of November 2025.