Burn ban reinstated as Charlotte County firefighters work nonstop

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK)—Firefighters in Southwest Florida are navigating one of the busiest dry seasons in recent memory as heat and wind continue to fuel fire risks across the region.

Lt. John Jensen of the Charlotte County Fire Department said while he's seen dry stretches before, this year has been different. The prolonged drought conditions prompted officials to reinstate the burn ban, adding pressure to crews already working around the clock.

"You can see even the stuff right out here in the area of the station is very dry," Jensen said. "The fuel moisture by this time of day is really low. The winds are up a little bit."

Jensen and his five-person crew at Station 11 work 24-hour shifts responding to a variety of calls. Under the burn ban, even a spark can quickly mobilize resources and pull firefighters away from routine emergencies.

"You always have that in the back of your mind—still have to backfill, because you have to run the everyday calls," Jensen said. "Anytime we're having a lot of active fires and stuff like that, obviously injuries go up."

Last Tuesday, the station saw that firsthand when two or three firefighters were injured while battling a brush fire on Acorn Boulevard. The injured crew members were out for a shift or two recovering from their injuries.

It's not known how the fire started. Jensen said many fires are accidental, often caused by people who don't fully understand the weather conditions.

"A lot of times it is truly accidental," Jensen said. "It's not because they were doing something malicious, but maybe they didn't understand. Most people looked very differently at the weather forecast than I do or than we do."

Violating the burn ban can come with financial consequences. Anyone burning something, whether under a ban or not, can be held liable for damages.