COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — After two years of busy brush fire seasons - during which several homes and buildings burned, and many people had to evacuate their homes - Southwest Florida has finally seen some relief in 2019. But while recent rains have helped keep fire danger low so far this year, officials say that could change quickly.
"We still keep our heightened sense of awareness because you never know," said John McMahon, assistant chief of operations with the North Collier Fire-Rescue District.
McMahon points to the Florida Forest Service's change to the fire danger status of counties in South Florida. Wednesday, the southern half of the state's fire danger index was listed as low, due to rain.
By Thursday, the fire index for Lee, Collier and Charlotte Counties increased to moderate - indicating that the area's ground and foliage can dry out quickly.
"The drought index is starting to come up, the humidity is low today, and we have high winds," McMahon said. "That brings the fire danger up."
He said it's crucial for homeowners to clear away any brush at least thirty feet around their homes and other buildings, and to keep leaves and pine needles off of roofs and gutters. And perhaps most importantly - make an evacuation plan with your family.
"(A brush fire) can get bigger very quickly," McMahon said. "Properties could be lost, and maybe even lives."
He said a family's brush fire evacuation plan would be much like a hurricane evacuation plan, but people usually get much shorter notice to evacuate from a brush fire than from a hurricane.
