590.01 Wildfire protection.—The Florida Forest Service has the primary responsibility for prevention, detection, and suppression of wildfires wherever they may occur. The Florida Forest Service shall provide leadership and direction in the evaluation, coordination, allocation of resources, and monitoring of wildfire management and protection. The Florida Forest Service shall promote natural resource management and fuel reduction […]
590.015 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term: (1) “Broadcast burning” means the burning of agricultural or natural vegetation by allowing fire to move across a predetermined area of land. The term does not include the burning of vegetative debris that is piled or stacked. (2) “Fire management services” means presuppression fireline plowing, prescribed burning assistance, contract prescribed […]
590.02 Florida Forest Service; powers, authority, and duties; liability; building structures; Withlacoochee Training Center.— (1) The Florida Forest Service has the following powers, authority, and duties to: (a) Enforce the provisions of this chapter; (b) Prevent, detect, and suppress wildfires wherever they may occur on public or private land in this state and do all things necessary in the […]
590.081 Severe drought conditions; burning prohibited.— (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 […]
590.082 Extraordinary fire hazard; certain acts made unlawful; proclamations by the Governor.— (1) When the Commissioner of Agriculture has declared a severe drought emergency to exist and described the general boundaries of the area affected as prescribed in s. 590.081 and the drought emergency continues until the wild lands become so dry or parched as to create […]
590.10 Disposing of lighted substances, etc.— (1) It is unlawful for any person to throw, drop, or dispose of a lighted match, cigarette, cigar, ashes, or other flaming or glowing substance, or any substance or thing which may or does cause a wildfire. (2) Anyone who violates this section commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as […]
590.11 Recreational fires.— (1) It is unlawful for any individual or group of individuals to build a warming fire, bonfire, or campfire and leave it unattended while visible flame, smoke, or emissions exist. (2) Anyone who violates this section commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. History.—s. 12, ch. […]
590.125 Open burning authorized by the Florida Forest Service.— (1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term: (a) “Certified pile burner” means an individual who successfully completes the pile burning certification program of the Florida Forest Service and possesses a valid pile burner certification number. (b) “Certified pile burning” means a pile burn conducted in accordance with a written […]
590.13 Civil liability.—Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be liable for all damages caused by such violation, which damages shall be recoverable in any court of competent jurisdiction. The civil liability attaches whether or not there is criminal prosecution and conviction. History.—s. 17, ch. 17029, 1935; CGL 1936 Supp. 4151(10-uu); s. […]
590.14 Notice of violation; penalties; legislative intent.— (1) If a Florida Forest Service employee determines that a person has violated chapter 589, this chapter, or any rule adopted by the Florida Forest Service to administer provisions of law conferring duties upon the Florida Forest Service, the Florida Forest Service employee may issue a notice of violation indicating […]
590.15 Burden of proof.—In any prosecution or civil action brought under the provisions of this chapter it shall not be necessary for the state or plaintiff to allege and prove absence of the right or authority of the defendant to set or cause to be set the fire, but such right and authority shall be a […]
590.16 Rewards.—The Florida Forest Service, in its discretion, may offer and pay rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person who violates any provision of this chapter. History.—s. 16, ch. 17029, 1935; CGL 1936 Supp. 4151(10-tt); ss. 14, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 12, ch. 99-292; s. 63, ch. 2012-7.
590.25 Penalty for obstructing the prevention, detection, or suppression of wildfires.—Whoever interferes with, obstructs or commits any act aimed to obstruct the prevention, detection, or suppression of wildfires by the employees of the Florida Forest Service or any other person engaged in the prevention, detection, or suppression of a wildfire, or who damages or destroys any […]
590.27 Penalty for mutilating or destroying forestry or fire control signs and posters.—Whoever intentionally breaks down, mutilates, removes, or destroys any fire control or forestry sign or poster commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. History.—s. 3, ch. 26833, 1951; ss. 14, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 617, […]
590.28 Intentional or reckless burning of lands.— (1) Whoever intentionally burns, sets fire to, or causes to be burned or causes any fire to be set to, any wild land or vegetative land clearing debris not owned by, or in the lawful possession of, the person setting such fire or burning such lands or causing such fire […]
590.29 Illegal possession of incendiary device.— (1) It is unlawful for a person other than a certified fire or law enforcement instructor to have in his or her possession any incendiary device as defined by subsection (3) with the intent to use such device for the purpose of burning or setting fire to any wild land, if […]
590.31 Southeastern Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact.—The Governor on behalf of this state is hereby authorized to execute a compact, in substantially the following form, with any one or more of the States of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, and the Legislature hereby signifies in advance its […]
590.32 Compact; effective date; ratification.—When the Governor shall have executed the compact on behalf of this state and shall have caused a verified copy thereof to be filed with the Department of State and when the compact shall have been ratified by one or more of the states named in s. 590.31, then the compact shall […]
590.33 State compact administrator; compact advisory committee.—In pursuance of art. III of the compact, the director of the Florida Forest Service shall act as compact administrator for Florida of the Southeastern Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact during his or her term of office as director, and his or her successor as compact administrator shall be his […]
590.34 State compact administrator and compact advisory committee members; powers; aid from other state agencies.—There is hereby granted to the director of the Florida Forest Service, as compact administrator and chair ex officio of the Florida members of the advisory committee, and to the members from Florida of the advisory committee all the powers provided for […]
