Outdoor burning prohibited in Lehigh Acres

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LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. Setting any fires outdoors, except barbecues, is now against the law in Lehigh Acres.

The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District voted Tuesday night to institute the temporary prohibition that nixes campfires, bonfires and trash burning, among other activities. The decision comes four days after a 400-acre brush fire destroyed four homes and damaged several others.

An attorney for the district advised commissioners against calling the measure a “burn ban,” on the belief that only the county has the authority to issue a burn ban.

Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Bonita Springs have all issued burn bans, as have the Bayshore Fire Protection and Rescue District and the Matlacha-Pine Island Fire Control District, but the county has yet to do so.

WINK News meteorologist Matt Devitt provided some insight on why Lee County hasn’t implemented a burn ban.

“I think the reason why their holding off at least just yet is because of all that rain we had over the weekend,” Devitt said. “Two to 5 inches especially in parts of lee county you know it helped to soften the blow, but I think it’s really only a matter of time considering over the next 10 days computer models are hinting at only a quater to or half an inch at best.”

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