Lee County burn ban decision today as drought sparks fire concerns

Lee County may soon join its neighboring counties in Southwest Florida by implementing a burn ban.

County commissioners are expected to vote on this decision later Tuesday morning.

A patch of dry grass can quickly turn into a fast-moving brush fire. The drought index is high, prompting areas like Cape Coral to enact their own burn bans.

WINK News spoke with the Cape Coral Fire Department about the dry conditions.

"When we have that dry rainy season, we have a lot of fuel for those brush fires," said Andrea Schuch, public information specialist for the Cape Coral Fire Department. "We're also having a lot of wind right now. The wind is really a concern, because if you do have a very small fire, it can become a large fire very, very quickly."

Schuch explained that even small actions could spark a fire in these conditions.

"If you're riding an ATV, or you park your car on the grass on the side of the road, or you throw a cigarette out the car window, those sparks, though they may be small, because we are in such dry conditions, can actually ignite a fire," said Schuch.

If the Lee County commissioners vote for the burn ban, it will last for at least 30 days. However, people can still use charcoal grills in park picnic areas. Open flames like fire pits, campfires and recreational burning would be prohibited.

WINK News will keep you updated on the commissioners' decision.