Lightning sparks 160-acre brush fire off Bermont Road in Charlotte County

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. —

Firefighters contained a 160-acre brush fire off Bermont Road in Charlotte County Sunday evening.

According to Charlotte County Public Safety, fire and EMS crews responded to reports of the fire at 5:58 p.m. Sunday. They added that no buildings were threatened and that the fire is now 100% contained.

The cause was determined to be a lightning strike. No injuries were reported.

Officials also reminded residents that Charlotte County has a burn ban in effect because of drought conditions and increased wildfire risk. The ban includes burning yard waste, recreational fires, pile burning for land clearing, and the private use or discharge of fireworks and sparklers.

A 3,000-acre brush fire also broke out in Glades County on Sunday.

With dry conditions across the area, officials warned that fires can start easily and spread quickly.

On March 5, extreme drought conditions were expanded to include all of Southwest Florida.

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