No injuries were reported throughout the day.
POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Polk County Fire Rescue responded to more than 30 brush fires on Sunday alone.
PCFR firefighters extinguished a fire as big as 400 acres near State Road 60 in the River Ranch area.
This caused S.R. 60 to close for several hours before reopening around 9 p.m.
Additionally, crews say an unknown number of camps were burned by the flames, but no home or other structures around Westgate River Ranch were damaged. No evacuations were ordered either.
Fire rescue also responded to a two-alarm brush fire off the Osceola Polk Line Road in Davenport, where around 68 acres were burned along with four structures that weren’t housing anyone.
Crews from Davenport, Haines City, Dundee and Orange County helped battle the fire.
No injuries were reported throughout the day.
Polk County brush fire response: Sunday, Feb. 15
Polk County burn ban in effect
Polk County Fire Rescue Chief Shawn Smith said this is an important time to take the current burn ban in place for the area seriously, citing extreme drought conditions, lack of significant rainfall, recent high winds and a number of people not following burn ban guidance.
“It seems that brush fires have been a constant issue throughout the day today. I just want to remind everybody that there are serious drought conditions in Polk County,” Smith said in a statement. “These illegal recreational fires need to cease.”
Polk County’s burn ban has been in place since late November and prohibits activities such as:
CampfiresBonfiresUnpermitted controlled burnsBurning of yard and household trashBurning of organic debrisFireworksNoncommercial burning; “other than for religious or ceremonial purposes, which is not contained in a barbecue grill or barbecue pit and the total fuel area exceeds 3ft in diameter and 2ft in height.”
Anyone who refuses to comply or violates the burn ban may be punished with a fine of up to $500, up to 60 days in county jail, or both.