Flagler Beach Fire Department

Florida is home to millions of residents who enjoy the state's beautiful scenery and warm climate. But few people realize that these qualities also create severe wildfire conditions. Each year, thousands of acres of wildland and many homes are destroyed by fires that can erupt at any time of the year from a variety of causes, including arson, lightning and debris burning. Adding to the fire hazard is the growing number of people living in new communities built in areas that were once wildland. This growth places even greater pressure on the state's wildland firefighters. As a result of this growth, fire protection becomes everyone's responsibility.

Over the past fifty years, more and more Floridians have moved out of our cities to build homes and businesses in outlying fringe areas known as the wildland/urban interface. In fact, almost 1/3 of our population now lives in interface areas where structures intermingle with forests and wildlands. Residents here, however, usually don't realize they may live too "close to nature"; they may, in fact, be Living on the Edge of a wildfire disaster.

On average, Florida experiences the second highest number of wildfires in the nation. During dry years, Florida experiences severe wildfires---wildfires that destroy homes, disrupt people's lives and impact our economy.

The simple truth is that few fire departments have adequate resources to protect every home in the wildland/urban interface.

Homeowners must become partners in fire protection. But there is also an important role for architects who design homes, builders, insurance agents, elected officials, planners, and educators– everyone who helps shape our communities.

Wildfires ravaged Flagler County in 1985 and 1998. Since then, the County and cities have stepped up, arming themselves with woods and brush units, tankers and even a helicopter. Even with all of these great resources, we need your help. Most wildfires are cause by carelessness. By making yourself familiar with what causes wildfires, and what the current daily threats to you are, we can all work together to stop these dangerous events from occurring. For more on 1998 wild fires, visit REACT Team 4800's website by clicking here. Below you will find some frequently asked questions.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is a KBDI?
Q. What does a burn ban mean?
Q. What does the fire danger level mean?
Q. What should I do if I encounter heavy smoke on the highway?
Q. What is prescribed fire?
Q. Where is my local DOF office?

A.KDBI - The Keetch-Byram drought index (KBDI) is a continuous reference scale for estimating the dryness of the soil and duff layers. The index increases for each day without rain (the amount of increase depends on the daily high temperature) and decreases when it rains. The scale ranges from 0 (no moisture deficit) to 800. The range of the index is determined by assuming that there is 8 inches of moisture in a saturated soil that is readily available to the vegetation.

For different soil types, the depth of soil required to hold 8 inches of moisture varies (loam=30", clay=25" and sand=80"). A prolonged drought (high KBDI) influences fire intensity largely because more fuel is available for combustion (i.e. fuels have a lower moisture content). In addition, the drying of organic material in the soil can lead to increased difficulty in fire suppression.

High values of the KBDI are an indication that conditions are favorable for the occurrence and spread of wildfires, but drought is not by itself a prerequisite for wildfires. Other weather factors, such as wind, temperature, relative humidity and atmospheric stability, play a major role in determining the actual fire danger.

A. The ban prohibits open burning, using open fire pits or containers, parking vehicles with catalytic converters in high grass areas and throwing matches or cigarettes for vehicles. The law stipulates a warning on the first offense and a $500 fine or 60 days in the County Jail on the second offense.

The ban outlaws all campfires and outdoor burning; however, it does not ban the use of barbecue grills.

A. The Fire Danger Is calculated by the State Division of Forestry and indicates the current threat of wildfires based on weather factors, such as wind, temperature, relative humidity and atmospheric stability. The range includes low, moderate, high, very high, and extreme.