Tenfold increase in Milton outdoor fire calls, burn ban continued

Milton Fire-Rescue has seen a tenfold increase in outdoor fire calls over the same period last year, according to a release issued Thursday.

More than one-third (42.9%) of the total brushfire calls reported since October 1, 2016 are direct violations of the Milton burn ban issued late last month, the release said. Another third of the outdoor brushfire calls were fires that quickly spread beyond a resident's control.

The indefinite burn ban that Milton fire marshals issued last month is still in effect.

The city's suspension on starting bonfires or burning yard and agricultural waste was imposed due to dry weather conditions.