Burn ban for all of Lee County is now in effect

Burn ban for all of Lee County is now in effect

The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to authorize a burn ban for unincorporated Lee County and municipalities, effective as warranted due to increasingly dry conditions throughout Southwest Florida.

The county’s ordinance bans “outdoor burning ignition sources,” including campfires, bonfires and trash burning. Grills for food and backyard fire rings are not included. Officials ask all county residents to be mindful of dry conditions and to use good judgment to mitigate the potential for significant wildfires.

The Florida Forest Service offers residents information and tips at:

• Be Wildfire Ready: www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Wildland-Fire/Fire-Prevention/Be-Wildfire-Ready

• Ready, Set, Go! Resources: www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Wildland-Fire/Fire-Safety/Ready-Set-Go!-Resources

Certain conditions must be met for the county to enact a burn ban, including a Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) that reaches or exceeds 600. Lee’s index value on Monday was a mean average of 593 out of 800. The county also coordinates with the Lee County Fire Chiefs’ Association and the Florida Forest Service, supporting the ban.

This 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 Board’s adoption of a State of Local Emergency accomplishes the burn ban. Commission Chairman Mike Greenwell will sign the State of Local Emergency and the burn ban as authorized by the Board vote as conditions are met.

County officials will continue to monitor the drought conditions to determine the length of the burn ban.

To receive updates from Lee County Government, sign up for the newsletter at www.leegov.com/resources/newsletters ¦

The post Burn ban for all of Lee County is now in effect first appeared on Bonita Springs Florida Weekly .