The Southwest Florida Water Management District is asking outdoor enthusiasts to take extra precautions to prevent wildfires when visiting District lands.
The region is experiencing the effects of a three-year drought and October through May is Florida’s dry season. In addition, several freezes over the past month have made grasses and other light vegetation extremely dry and volatile.
The District is asking campers and other outdoor enthusiasts to take the following precautions:
- Vehicle catalytic converters get very hot and can quickly ignite dry brush or other vegetation like pine needles or dead leaves. Avoid parking vehicles in areas of dead grass, brush or other vegetation. Park in areas with little or no vegetation or over low “green” vegetation.
- Avoid driving vehicles on roads with tall, dead grass.
- Dispose of smoking materials properly; do not toss them on the ground.
- Where fires are permitted, use existing fire rings, fire pans or mound fires.
- Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand.
- Do not cut down trees or bushes for firewood.
- When extinguishing a fire, pour water on it to extinguish all embers. If water is not available, use dirt. Mix the water or dirt around until all the material in the pit is cool. Remember, if it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave.
The District also asks that if people see a fire while on District land, please call 911.