Sign of drought ending: Lee County burn ban ends
Lee County commissioners lifted the burn ban today (June 3) that's been in place since April 15.
According to the Florida Forest service the Keetch-Byram Drought Index has dropped to under 500 after recent rains. A burn ban is prompted by a measurement more than 600.
County Attorney Richard Wesch told commissioners the ban would expire on June 5 without their action, but a motion by Chairman Kevin Ruane to end it immediately was passed unanimously.
Under the ban no open burring was allowed except for grilling food.
Officials encourage residents who need to burn to do so responsibly and follow rules for burning. Information is available from the Florida Forest Service at https://www.fdacs.gov/content/download/4743/file/know_the_law.pdf.
City residents should check their city's website in case more restrictive rules exist.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Drought index drops - so does Lee County burn ban
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Central Florida braces for hot and steamy Friday
Showers and storms are expected to be widespread across Central Florida Friday afternoon and evening, with heavy rain likely along I-4 and to the west. Afternoon temperatures will climb to the upper 80s and low 90s, with heat index values reaching the mid and upper 90s. This weather pattern is part of a larger trend of increasing heat across the country, which is expected to intensify over the weekend and into next week. Residents in Central Florida should prepare for a return to the mid-90s in terms of high temperatures next week. The combination of high temperatures and humidity will result in uncomfortable conditions. Those living along I-4 and to the west should be especially vigilant, as these regions are forecasted to receive the most significant rainfall. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
How to stay cool in the heat wave hitting parts of the US — even without air conditioning
The first big heat wave of 2025 has arrived, coinciding with the official start of summer . More than 40 million people in the U.S. were under heat alerts Friday, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures in the Midwest are expected to crest well into the 90s Fahrenheit (30s Celsius) this weekend. Triple-digit highs could pop up in New York, Philadelphia, Washington and Denver. The peak will likely hit the East Coast early next week.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
NYC could experience first heat wave of the summer: National Weather Service
NEW YORK (PIX11) — Get ready, New York City! Summer and its first heat wave are just around the corner. A heat wave is at least three consecutive days with temperatures of 90 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. More Local News Starting Sunday, temperatures will reach 92, then rise to 95 on Monday. Tuesday will be no better, as the temperature is expected to be 97. Wednesday will mark another day in the 90s. 'Heat waves can occur with or without high humidity. They have the potential to cover a large area, exposing a high number of people to hazardous heat.' NWS For New Yorkers without an air conditioner or a plan to stay cool during the heat wave, the New York City Emergency Management recommends beating the heat by checking out their NYC Cool Options locator. Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
