Burn ban issued for Collier County amid high fire risk

Author: Special to WINK News
Published: Updated:
local response teams
Great Naples Fire Rescue District. Credit: WINK News.

A burn ban has been issued for Collier County, effective immediately.

The decision came after consultation between the Collier County Bureau of Emergency Services, Florida Forest Service, Collier County Fire Chiefs’ Association, Collier County Sheriff’s Office, and the National Weather Service.

This is in an effort to keep the small fires like the ones from recent weeks from turning into big fires.

“Florida is designed to burn,” said Caloosahatchee Forestry Center Manager Sean Allen. “The conditions we’re seeing right now are favoring a pretty significant fire season.”

We’ve already seen brush fires pop up in Collier County and throughout Southwest Florida, and we could be in for several dry months ahead. “We’ve got March, April and May to get through before we start seeing any considerable changes,” said Allen.

It’s one of the reasons a county-wide burn ban is now in effect for unincorporated Collier County but exempts all commercial agricultural burning. “It’s significantly earlier than what it was last year,” Allen said. The drought we are experiencing is expected to last through the month.

Fire officials are putting out this warning, “Any little start can turn into something potentially serious,” said Allen.

Outdoor fires and open burning of trash or yard waste are no longer allowed. Violating the ban could cost you up to $15,000. In addition, outdoor grills, stoves, cookers and smokers may be used in the preparation of food if the cooking fire is controlled and attended to. All outdoor cooking areas shall be free of burnable materials within an area having a circumference of three feet beyond the nearest edge of the cooking fire.

“Do not be afraid to call in suspicious smoke columns you see, fire unattended, call these things in and especially during a burn ban if you see people actively burning absolutely report it,” said Allen.

The ban will remain in effect until further notice.

If you are a homeowner, a handy resource to help you be wildfire ready can be found by clicking here. For more information on the burn ban, you can call 311 or (239) 252-8999.

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