On April 5, the Lee County Board of County Commissioners enacted a burn ban for unincorporated Lee County and municipalities due to increasingly dry conditions throughout Southwest Florida.
The county’s ordinance bans “outdoor burning ignition sources,” including campfires, bonfires and trash burning. Grilling food and backyard fire rings are not included. Officials ask all county residents to be mindful of dry conditions and use good judgment to mitigate potential for significant wildfires.
The Florida Forest Service offers information and tips on its Be Wildfire Ready website at https://www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Wildland-Fire/Fire-Prevention/Be-Wildfire-Ready and its Ready, Set, Go! Resources website at https://www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Wildland-Fire/Fire-Safety/Ready-Set-Go!-Resources.
For the county to enact a burn ban, certain conditions must be met, including a Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) that reached or exceeds a value of 600. As of April 5, Lee’s index value was a mean average of 651 out of 800. The county also coordinates with the Lee County Fire Chiefs’ Association and Florida Forest Service, both of which support the ban.
The ban does not apply to prescribed burns authorized by the Florida Forest Service, authorized public fireworks displays permitted by Lee County and other government agencies, and fireworks sales authorized by state laws.
The burn ban was accomplished by the board adopting a State of Local Emergency. County officials will continue to monitor the drought conditions to determine how long the burn ban will be in place.
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