Highlands County Fire Rescue

06/01/2026

🌱 Drought is about more than how much rain falls.

It's also about how much moisture remains in the soil, plants and vegetation over time.

Months of dry conditions can leave grasses, brush and trees vulnerable even after a few rainy days.

That's one reason fire officials continue monitoring wildfire conditions closely throughout the year.

The recent rainfall has helped, but Highlands County is still recovering from a prolonged period of dry conditions.

Please continue practicing outdoor fire safety and stay aware of local conditions.

06/01/2026

🏠 As a new month rolls in, now is a great time to test your smoke detectors!

Making it a monthly habit only takes a few minutes and can help ensure your smoke alarms are ready when you need them most.

Working smoke detectors provide an early warning during a fire, giving you and your family valuable time to get out safely.

Pick a recurring date that's easy to remember, like the first day of every month, payday, or when you change your calendar.

Small routines can make a big difference in keeping your home safe!

06/01/2026

Heads up Highlands County! A rare late season front will bring a Marginal Risk of severe weather along the Nature Coast on June 2. This will be associated with a line of storms that will push through during the evening and early overnight hours.
Highlands County Emergency Management

A rare late season front will bring a Marginal Risk of severe weather along the Nature Coast on June 2nd. This will be associated with a line of storms that will push through during the evening and early overnight hours.

05/31/2026

💧 Why does wildfire risk sometimes remain high after it rains?

The answer is below the surface.

A single rain event may wet grass, leaves and the top layer of soil, but drought affects much deeper soil layers and vegetation.

After long periods of dry weather:
🔥 Trees and brush can remain stressed
🔥 Roots may still lack moisture
🔥 Dead vegetation can remain highly flammable
🔥 Wind and high temperatures can quickly dry surface fuels again

That's why emergency managers, firefighters and weather experts continue monitoring drought conditions even after significant rainfall.

Recent rain is encouraging, but wildfire prevention remains everyone's responsibility.

05/31/2026

🌧️ Recent rainfall across Highlands County is welcome news, and conditions are beginning to improve.

However, drought recovery doesn't happen overnight.

While rain helps moisten grasses and surface vegetation, it can take weeks or even months of consistent rainfall for deeper soil moisture levels to fully recover after an extended drought.

That means wildfire risk can remain elevated even when everything looks greener than it did a few days ago.

The recent rain is a step in the right direction, but continued caution and outdoor fire safety remain important throughout Highlands County.

🔥 Stay alert.
🔥 Follow local burn restrictions.
🔥 Be mindful of activities that could create sparks or open flames.

Small actions can help prevent wildfires while our area continues to recover.

05/29/2026

Special weather statement issued May 29, 2026, at 6:32 p.m. by US National Weather Service Tampa Bay Florida:

A strong thunderstorm will impact Highlands County through 7:15 p.m. EDT.

At 6:31 p.m. EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Sebring Regional Airport, or near Sebring, moving south at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include... Sebring, Avon Park, Lake Placid, Sebring Regional Airport, Sylvan Shores, Lake Istokpoga, Brighton, Cornwell, Sebring Shores, Lake Josephine, Lorida, Avon Park Executive Airport, Avon Park Air Force Range, Crewsville, and Placid Lakes.

PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… If outdoors, consider seeking shelter indoors.

05/28/2026

A burn ban is a temporary safety measure put in place during extremely dry conditions to help reduce the risk of dangerous wildfires.

When vegetation and soil become critically dry, even small outdoor sparks can quickly spread and threaten homes, property and natural areas.

Burn bans may prohibit activities such as:
• Yard debris burning
• Burn barrels
• Campfires and open burning
• Personal fireworks use
• Other outdoor burning activities

Restrictions are based on current drought conditions and wildfire risk – not the calendar.

Even after rainfall, dry conditions can remain beneath the surface for weeks.

Highlands County continues monitoring drought conditions closely and appreciates the community’s help in reducing wildfire risk and protecting our neighborhoods, firefighters and natural resources.

05/27/2026

Even with some recent rainfall, Highlands County remains in extreme drought conditions. 🌧️🔥

One way fire officials measure drought and wildfire danger in Florida is through the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI), which tracks how dry the soil and vegetation are on a scale from 0 to 800.

As of May 26, Highlands County’s KBDI is 612, placing our area in the “Extreme Fire Risk” category.

What does that mean in simple terms?

🚩 The ground is still extremely dry beneath the surface
🚩 Trees, brush and vegetation can ignite more easily
🚩 Fires can spread faster and burn deeper
🚩 Even small outdoor sparks can become dangerous under the right conditions

For perspective:
🟢 0–200 = Low fire danger
🟡 200–400 = Moderate fire danger
🟠 400–600 = High fire danger
🔴 600–800 = Extreme fire danger

While recent rain has helped temporarily, drought conditions do not disappear overnight. It takes consistent rainfall over time for deeper soil moisture levels to recover.

Due to ongoing dry conditions, Highlands County remains under a burn ban through June 16.

Please continue to use caution outdoors:
✔️ Avoid parking on dry grass
✔️ Properly dispose of ci******es
✔️ Never leave fires unattended
✔️ Follow local burn restrictions and safety guidance

Highlands County Fire Rescue will continue monitoring conditions closely and appreciates the community’s help in reducing wildfire risk.