Refreshing Tuesday morning, then a warm and sunny afternoonLehigh Acres crash shuts down Bell Boulevard South
Brush fire in Lehigh Acres. Credit: Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District The fire danger in Southwest Florida is very high, and evidence of that came in the form of a brush fire in Lehigh Acres on Wednesday. Southwest Florida is on the brink of peak fire season. Firefighters responded to the outbreak of a brush fire in the area of Greenbriar Boulevard and Killion Street in Lehigh Acres. No homes were in danger, but firefighters were out all day keeping an eye on it. According to Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue, Wednesday’s fire appears to have started near an ATV trail. Those four-wheelers and dirt bikes can be dangerous when it is dry because they kick can out sparks. Lehigh fire recommends owners make sure they stay off the trails for now or add a spark arrestor to their bike or ATV to help prevent them from starting a fire. There are other ways you can prevent fires, like the one in the Hickey Creek Preserve on Wednesday. Katie Heck, with Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue, said, “right now, what people can do is enjoy this cool weather, work outside in their yards, clean up any dry brush, clean off their roofs from maybe leaves that have fallen throughout the winter. You want to make sure that you are at a good starting point should a brushfire come near your home. Second to that, be aware of what’s going on in your community. If you see smoke, you see flames, be that person that calls 911 immediately. Don’t assume that somebody else has already made the call.” Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue says Wednesday’s fire is under control, but firefighters will stick around until it is 100% contained.