Florida Statewide Rule
Florida Forest Service Wildfire Jurisdiction
Key Facts
- Statute
- Fla. Stat. Ch. 590
- Authority
- Florida Forest Service
- Code
- NFPA 1 (Fla. Fire Code)
- Burn Ban Power
- Statewide & county
Summary
The Florida Forest Service has statewide jurisdiction over wildfire prevention and suppression on non-municipal land under Chapter 590, Florida Statutes.
590.02 Florida Forest Service; powers, authority, and duties; liability; building structures; Withlacoochee and Welaka Training Centers.- (1) The Florida Forest Service has the following powers, authority, and duties to: (a) Enforce the provisions of this chapter; (b) Prevent, detect, and suppress wildfires wherever they may occur on public or private land in this state and do all things necessary in the exercise of such powers, authority, and duties; (c) Provide firefighting crews, who shall be under the control and direction of the Florida Forest Service and its designated agents; (d) Appoint center managers, forest area supervisors, forestry p
Full Breakdown
Section 590.02, Florida Statutes, gives the Florida Forest Service (within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services) the duty to prevent, detect, and suppress wildfires on all forest lands of the state. The FFS issues outdoor burning authorizations, declares burn bans during high fire-danger periods, and may enter any land to suppress fire. The Florida Fire Prevention Code (NFPA 1, adopted by reference in Chapter 633) governs wildland-urban interface defensible space requirements uniformly statewide.
Violations & Penalties
Intentionally burning another's lands is a third-degree felony under Section 590.28; reckless burning is a second-degree misdemeanor, with liability for suppression costs and damage to public and private property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who declares burn bans in Florida?
Does Florida have wildland-urban interface codes?
Sources
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