POLK COUNTY, Fla. — If you were planning a backyard fireworks display to celebrate the New Year, you’ll need to change your plans. Polk County Fire Rescue has issued a reminder that the county-wide burn ban remains in full effect, and it strictly prohibits personal-use fireworks.
While residents are barred from lighting up the sky themselves, the celebration isn’t entirely canceled. Officials clarified that professional fireworks shows organized by municipalities are exempt from the order and are still permitted to proceed.
The restrictions are a response to unseasonably dry conditions that have plagued the region from summer straight through the fall. The ban, effective since Nov. 25, applies to all unincorporated areas of Polk County and includes Auburndale, Bartow, Davenport, Dundee, Fort Meade, Frostproof, Haines City, Lake Alfred, Lake Wales, Lakeland, and Winter Haven…