Reporter: Paul Dolan
•7/2/2026
ENGLEWOOD, Fla. (WINK)— Charlotte County is keeping its burn ban in place, and with July Fourth around the corner, that means fireworks are off the table for now.
County commissioners met and decided that dry conditions in parts of the county were still too risky to lift the ban.
For residents like Sabrina Williams and her husband Cory, the decision hits close to home.
Back in February, a fire broke out near their Englewood property, and the couple watched as flames crept closer.
"It was getting scary, because it was really windy that day, and that was blowing towards our house," Williams said.
The fire left behind charred tree trunks and scorched warning signs that still surround their property today.
"No wonder we saw flames. This could have been us," Williams said.
Williams said the experience still stays with her.
"I definitely have some kind of PTSD, because it was the helicopters going over and they were very low, and we could feel the spray from the helicopter, so you know that was made it very surreal," she said.
Fire officials say lightning has been sparking brush fires almost every night for the past two weeks.
Ashley Turner said the pattern has kept crews busy.
"We have been responding to brush fires due to lightning almost every night; it feels like for the past two weeks or so, since that rain has started," Turner said.
Officials warn that even a single ember from fireworks can travel and ignite dry grass or brush nearby.
"One ember can travel and start a fire somewhere else, so even if, say, you're lighting a fire near dry grass or dry brush in an empty lot, that spark can start a fire," Turner said.
For the Williams family, the message to neighbors thinking about setting off fireworks is clear.
"They're putting us at risk, I mean, and we have properties to protect, and I think we could go one more year without lighting fireworks," Williams said.
