Collier County barnyard party sparks fires amid extreme drought

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. —

A barnyard party in Collier County, Florida, attended by 276 young adults, resulted in two fires last weekend, raising concerns about the dangers of gatherings during an extreme drought and active burn ban.

Heather Mazurkiewicz from the North Collier Fire Control & Rescue Station said, "So, an innocent gathering of young people could turn out to have really large consequences." The sheriff's office reported that the partygoers trespassed on land off Immokalee Road, igniting two campfires.

Mazurkiewicz emphasized the potential financial impact of violating the burn ban, stating, "I know that the burn ban does include fines up to $15,000 per person per incident. So, you can try to figure out the math with the kids that were out there, how that could have had not only an impact to their life and safety, but also a financial impact."

She further explained the risks posed by the current weather conditions, saying, "The winds that we're having right now, even an ember that can travel from a small fire, that can travel somewhere else with these drought conditions that we have, can start another fire nearby. And then the fire escalates, and then we're dealing with situations that could put the lives and property of the people of Collier County in danger."

The North Collier Fire District wants to remind people that grills used for cooking are allowed if attended and there are no burnable materials within 3 feet, but burning anything outdoors is illegal right now.

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