This time of the year, a brush fire can start just about anywhere in Lehigh Acres. With its thousands of vacant, dry overgrown lots, it’s a perfect recipe for a tragedy.
“In Lehigh Acres, we still have about 80,000 vacant dry lots,” said Katie Heck from the Lehigh Fire District.
Amidst an extreme fire danger index for Lee County, Lehigh Acres Fire said the blazes they are fighting are all man-made.
“So that’s throwing cigarettes out the window, campfires that aren’t properly extinguished, riding ATVs without spark arrestors on them,” she said.
In Lehigh Acres, four-wheelers are everywhere, and Heck said many brush fires they fight are caused by them. However, a simple device, called a spark arrestor can make the difference in whether or not someone loses their home.
“If you are going to ride an ATV through these densely brushed areas, there are established trails, but those sparks can fly off and easily ignite that dry grass.” Heck said.