An order prohibiting outdoor burning in the unincorporated areas of the county due to the dry weather conditions and the threat of wildfire was extended for 30 days during an emergency called meeting of the Polk County Commissioners Court Thursday.
The Court also approved continuing the disaster declaration relating to the countywide burn ban that was signed by Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy on Oct. 11. The action was taken following a review of the drought index in Polk County.
“Polk County has not had significant rainfall for an extended period and weather forecasters offer little promise of a change in the dry conditions in the near future and these dry conditions pose the threat of large, dangerous and fast-moving wildfires and such fires have the potential of endangering the lives and damaging property to a large scale,” Murphy said when she signed the disaster declaration Oct. 11.
The disaster declaration will continue until rescinded in accordance with statute and order but could not continue for more than seven days without authorization by the Polk County Commissioners Court, hence Thursday’s emergency meeting.
The purpose of the order is the mitigation of the hazard posed by wildfires by curtailing the practice of outdoor burning. To see the order, go to polkcountyoem.com.
