LaBelle Residents Prepare for Cold Front, Fire Officials Urge Caution

LABELLE -  As a cold front moves into Southwest Florida this weekend, residents in LaBelle are taking different approaches to the cooler temperatures.

Some shoppers, like Alejandro Rodriguez, stocked up on groceries and warm foods to stay home and ride out the chill. “Stay home, stay warm. Keep the house warm… we decided (to shop) tonight, because we don’t know how we’re going to be tomorrow,” Rodriguez said.

Others, like Eduardo Marcano, who moved to Florida from upstate New York, say the weather is nothing to worry about. “This is beautiful to me… this is still short sleeves weather for me,” he said. Marcano added that a little frost on his car windshield doesn’t change his routine.

Even for kids, the cold front is creating excitement. Ten-year-old Cassandra Constain said she’s hoping to see snow this weekend.

But local fire officials caution that the cooler weather can also bring risks. Labelle volunteer firefighter Samuel  Santillana warned residents to avoid bonfires, even if it seems like the perfect time to start one. “Even though it seems like the perfect time to start a bonfire and cook up some s’mores, I would say, please do not,” he said. Dry grass and windy conditions make illegal fires dangerous and could quickly spread into larger brush fires.

Whether staying cozy inside or enjoying the rare Florida chill, LaBelle residents are adjusting in their own ways ahead of the weekend cold front.