Charlotte County lifts burn ban after 4-1 vote

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK)— Charlotte County leaders lifted the burn ban in a 4-1 vote.

The rest of Southwest Florida has been under a burn ban since mid-January. That includes Lee, Collier, Glades and Hendry counties.

The ban means people cannot burn anything outdoors, including yard waste, or use fireworks and sparklers. Charlotte County says a decision will be made based on the current forecast and fuel conditions.

But lifting the ban comes with risk. Greater Naples Fire Rescue responded to two fires on Monday.

The first fire burned about 14 acres near the Gallery at Hacienda Lakes in East Naples. A second smaller fire burned around 2.5 acres.

With fires popping up around the region, questions remain about whether it's a good idea for Charlotte County to lift the ban.