Orange County Issues Outdoor Burn Ban Amid Dry Conditions

The ban prohibits all outdoor burning until further notice due to wildfire risk.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Orange County Judge John Gothia has issued an immediate Outdoor Burn Ban for all of Orange County, effective 9 a.m. today, February 13, 2026. The ban, which strictly prohibits all outdoor burning, was implemented as a precautionary measure due to increasingly dry conditions in the region, which pose a significant wildfire risk to the lives, homes, and property of Orange County residents.

Why it matters

Outdoor burn bans are critical fire prevention measures during periods of drought and high wildfire risk. Orange County has experienced several major wildfires in recent years, so officials are taking proactive steps to protect the community.

The details

The ban will remain in effect until further notice, and authorities will continue to monitor weather and ground conditions closely before lifting the prohibition once it is deemed safe.

  • The outdoor burn ban went into effect at 9 a.m. on February 13, 2026.

The players

John Gothia

The Orange County Judge who issued the outdoor burn ban.

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What’s next

County officials will lift the burn ban once weather and ground conditions improve and the wildfire risk subsides.

The takeaway

Outdoor burn bans are an important fire prevention tool, and residents of Orange County must comply with the ban to protect their community from the threat of devastating wildfires.