Burn ban in effect throughout Lee County
The city of Cape Coral and Lee County have issued burn bans due to the current drought index.
Cape Coral Fire Department officials issued the city’s burn ban Wednesday, with the intent to limit fire hazards to protect the health, safety, and welfare of residents.
“This measure prohibits recreational burns (i.e. fire pits, campfires) and city permitted burns (i.e. bonfires and land clearing control burns),” CCFD officials stated.
The ban also includes burning vegetative debris. Fires solely for cooking purposes where the fire, flames, and heat generated are fully contained within the confines of the device being used (i.e. grill) are still allowed.
Officials said the ban shall be in effect until the local drought index is below 600 for seven consecutive days.
In addition to following the burn ban restrictions, the CCFD requests “the community be vigilant in not disposing of lit smoking materials outdoors, including from a car window. The Department also requests vehicles, including ATVs, only be operated on paved, gravel, or dirt surfaces and not on grass or other vegetation.”
Lee County officials issued a burn ban for unincorporated Lee County and municipalities effective immediately “due to increasingly dry conditions throughout Southwest Florida.””
The ban went into effect late Tuesday when the drought index hit 600.
County officials stated its 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 potential for significant wildfires.
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. Lee’s index value Tuesday afternoon was a mean average of 600 out of 800.
The county also coordinates with the Lee County Fire Chiefs’ Association and the Florida Forest Service, both of which support the ban.
County officials will continue to monitor the drought conditions to determine how long the ban will be in place. Visit leegov.com and Lee County Government’s social media to monitor when the ban is rescinded.
To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com