(1) The Commissioner of Agriculture may declare a severe drought emergency to exist and describe the general boundaries of the area affected.
(2) Any declaration by the Commissioner of Agriculture under authority of this section shall be effective immediately upon being filed with the Department of State and shall remain in full force and effect until conditions warrant a revocation. In order to end the declaration, the commissioner must file a revocation of the declaration with the Department of State.
(3) It is unlawful for any person to set fire to, or cause fire to be set to, any wild lands or to build a campfire or bonfire or to burn trash or other debris within the designated area of a severe drought emergency unless a written permit is obtained from the Florida Forest Service or its designated agent.
(4) Any person violating any of the provisions of this section commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
History.—ss. 1-5, ch. 57-246; ss. 14, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 71-64; s. 614, ch. 71-136; s. 1, ch. 75-264; s. 4, ch. 99-292; s. 59, ch. 2012-7.
Structure Florida Statutes
Title XXXV - Agriculture, Horticulture, and Animal Industry
Chapter 590 - Forest Protection
590.081 - Severe Drought Conditions; Burning Prohibited.
590.082 - Extraordinary Fire Hazard; Certain Acts Made Unlawful; Proclamations by the Governor.
590.10 - Disposing of Lighted Substances, Etc.
590.125 - Open Burning Authorized by the Florida Forest Service.
590.14 - Notice of Violation; Penalties; Legislative Intent.
590.25 - Penalty for Obstructing the Prevention, Detection, or Suppression of Wildfires.
590.27 - Penalty for Mutilating or Destroying Forestry or Fire Control Signs and Posters.
590.28 - Intentional or Reckless Burning of Lands.
590.29 - Illegal Possession of Incendiary Device.
590.31 - Southeastern Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact.
590.32 - Compact; Effective Date; Ratification.
590.33 - State Compact Administrator; Compact Advisory Committee.
590.35 - Construction of Ss. 590.31-590.34.
590.42 - Federally Funded Fire Protection Assistance Programs.