Effective today, Jan. 20, Lee County enacted a burn ban for unincorporated Lee and municipalities due to increasingly dry conditions throughout Southwest Florida.<\/p>\n
The county commission voted to enact the ban at its meeting today, Jan. 20.<\/p>\n
The county\u2019s ordinance bans \u201coutdoor burning ignition sources,\u201d including campfires, bonfires and trash burning. Grills for food are not included. Officials are asking residents to be mindful of dry conditions and to use good judgment to mitigate potential for significant wildfires.<\/p>\n
The Florida Forest Service offers information and tips at:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Be Wildfire Ready<\/p>\n
www.fdacs.gov\/Forest-Wildfire\/Wildland-Fire\/Fire-Prevention\/Be-Wildfire-Ready<\/a><\/p>\n \u2013 Ready, Set, Go! Resources<\/p>\n www.fdacs.gov\/Forest-Wildfire\/Wildland-Fire\/Fire-Safety\/Ready-Set-Go!-Resources<\/a><\/p>\n For the county to enact a burn ban, certain conditions must be met, including a Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) that reaches or exceeds a value of 600. Lee\u2019s index value today, Jan. 20, was a mean average of 637 out of 800. The county also coordinates with the Lee County Fire Chiefs\u2019 Association and Florida Forest Service, both of which support the ban.<\/p>\n The ban does not apply to prescribed burns authorized by the Florida Forest Service, authorized public fireworks displays permitted by the county and other government agencies, and fireworks sales authorized by state laws.<\/p>\n The ban is accomplished by the county commission adopting a State of Local Emergency.<\/p>\n County officials will continue to monitor the drought conditions to determine how long the ban will be in place. Visit www.leegov.com<\/a> and the county\u2019s social media to monitor when the ban is rescinded.<\/p>\n