FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: John Wilson, Lee
County Public Safety
(941) 335-1600
LEE COUNTY CONTINUES STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY DUE TO FIRE THREAT
FORT MYERS, Fla. (February 27, 2001) – The Board of Lee County Commissioners continued today for a two-week period the "State of Local Emergency" declared last week because of the high and continuing threat of brush fires in the county.
A state of emergency declaration makes the county eligible for federal fire suppression funds and temporarily increases the Public Safety Division’s ability to combat emergencies, including being able to expend additional funds, order evacuations and open shelters. It also is a signal to residents that they should be aware of the potential threat of brush fires in the area.
The Board will receive a status report on the state of emergency at its next meeting on March 13 to decide whether to extend it.
Lee County’s Keetch Byram Drought Index is at 676, on a scale of 0 (wettest) to 800 (driest), with areas west of Interstate 75 over 700. Normally this time of year the index is between 300 and 490 (based on 35 years of data). Long-term Drought models indicate that Southwest Florida will continue to experience drought conditions.
On Feb. 23, the Governor declared a State of Emergency because the danger of wildfire continues to threaten the state with a major disaster. On Feb. 26, Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner issued an emergency declaration banning outdoor burning for 39 of Florida’s 67 counties, including Lee.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management is urging residents to:
For more information on Florida’s drought and wildland fire safety, visit the Florida Division of Emergency Management on the Internet at www.floridadisaster.org or the Florida Division of Forestry at www.fl-dof.com.
Some brushfire safety tips this time of year include: