News Release

Burn Ban in Effect for Gulf Islands National Seashore in Florida

Date: May 14, 2020
Contact: Brent Everitt, 850-934-2600

Gulf Breeze, Fla. – A lack of precipitation in recent weeks has created very dry fuel conditions and a high fire danger in areas throughout Gulf Islands National Seashore. In coordination with local communities, the national seashore is implementing a burn ban for the Florida areas of the park effective immediately. The burn ban will include the use of picnic area charcoal grills and portable grills. Park staff and regional wildland fire managers are closely watching conditions.

Visitors should only smoke in areas that are free from combustible fuels and ensure that the cigarette is completely extinguished and disposed of properly. Fireworks are always strictly prohibited in all areas of the national seashore. To report a wildfire in the national seashore, please call 911.

Recent efforts by the national seashore to reduce the risk of wildland fire through prescribed burns in the Naval Live Oaks Area help curtail the risk to life, property, and resources in the event of a wildfire, but cannot prevent them entirely.  

About Gulf Islands National Seashore: Created in 1971, the national seashore stretches 160 miles along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico in Florida and Mississippi, and includes barrier islands, maritime forests, historic forts, bayous, and marine habitat. Visit us at www.nps.gov/GulfIslands, on Facebook www.facebook.com/GulfIslandsNPS, Twitter www.twitter.com/GulfIslandsNPS, and Instagram www.Instagram.com/GulfIslandsNPS.

About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice and Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice.

~NPS~