Polk County Lifts Burn Ban Just in Time for America’s 250th birthday
Bartow, Fla. (June 17, 2026) — Polk County has repealed its countywide burn ban, county officials announced Tuesday, lifting a restriction that had threatened to cancel backyard fireworks during what many are calling the most significant Independence Day celebration in American history.
Polk County Fire Chief Shawn Smith, local municipal fire chiefs and Florida Forest Service Lakeland District Manager Pat Keogh announced the repeal after tracking rainfall totals and monitoring the county’s Keetch-Byram Drought Index. As of June 16, the county’s KBDI average had dropped to 455, with 70% of the county now below the 500 threshold that triggers a ban.
“As we look at weather forecasts and the decrease in the KBDI, it confirms that our numbers are going in the correct direction for a repeal of the burn ban,” Smith said. “As always we will continuously monitor the KBDI and weather in case conditions change and we begin to experience another period of dry weather.”
The original ban, declared May 6 under Polk County Ordinance No. 08-015, had been put in place after drought conditions pushed the countywide KBDI average to 531, with 76% of the county above the 500 benchmark. The KBDI is a continuous scale from 0 to 800 measuring soil moisture, with 0 representing no drought and 800 representing maximum drought conditions.
The timing matters for July 4 planning across the county. As The Citrus Tea reported June 11, this year’s Independence Day marks America’s 250th anniversary, and cities across Polk County had been counting on fireworks as a centerpiece of milestone events. Fort Meade City Manager Troy Bell had told commissioners that the city’s annual July 3 celebration would be canceled if the ban had not lifted in time.
With the repeal now in place, those plans can move forward. Lakeland’s Red, White & Kaboom at Lake Mirror, Winter Haven’s Rockin’ Freedom Fest, Auburndale’s Lake Ariana celebration, Bartow’s Mosaic Park event and Haines City’s Thunder on the Ridge are all still scheduled as planned.
Residents should still exercise caution. Anyone who spots a potentially dangerous fire is asked to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Non-Emergency Line at 863-298-6200, or call 911 if life or property is in immediate danger.
Current emergency orders and declarations are posted at polkfl.gov/public-safety/emergency-orders-and-declarations.
Sources: Polk County Government news release, June 17, 2026, polkfl.gov; The Citrus Tea, “Polk County’s Burn Ban Could Shut Down Backyard Fireworks for America’s Biggest Birthday in 50 Years,” June 11, 2026, thecitrustea.com
