Officials urge SWFL residents to take precautions to prevent brush fires

LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. – The dry, hot, and windy weather Southwest Florida is having has increased our wildfire threat.

So it’s important to know what to do during this time to prevent brush fires from happening. 

“What people need to understand in these conditions is that a small fire can become a big fire really fast,” said Katie Heck with Lehigh Fire & Rescue. “A lot of times we don’t know the exact causes for some of these brush fires because they spread so quickly but generally speaking if it’s not lightening then it’s man-made, created by something someone is doing.”

One fire in Lehigh Acres, called Gary Sutton to action after he smelled smoke in his basement Friday morning.

“I got my garden hose but it wasn’t quite enough,” said Sutton. “I had called and within about seven minutes there were five to six fire trucks protecting the houses that were here. The other ones were fighting the fire.”

On top of taking precautions, fire officials urge that if you see a fire of any size to call 9-1-1.

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