Dry conditions in Polk County spark fire safety concerns on Memorial Day weekend. Here’s how to stay safe
POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Polk County Fire Rescue Chief Dr. Hezedean Smith said the agency has battled fires on more than 6,500 acres so far this year, double the amount of fires they responded to by this point last year.
“About 75% of the county is, really, very dry, abnormally dry,” said Chief Smith.
Chief Smith expects Polk County to issue a burn ban sometime next week. There are already burn bans in effect in Sarasota and Highlands counties.
For now, Chief Smith is asking residents, especially those on campgrounds, to use caution with recreational fires, trash burning and cookouts, and while igniting fireworks.
“ATV trails, those are risk areas as well where we have off-road vehicles that may not necessarily have those spark arrestors on there so ultimately they can create a fire hazard,” said Chief Smith.
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While fire departments use water to put out fires, the Florida Forest Service uses heavy equipment like plows, Todd Chlanda, a wildfire mitigation specialist and public information officer for the Florida Forest Service explained.
The plows clear 6-foot side paths to choke the flames.
“If you remove the fuel from the fire, there’s nothing to burn,” he said.
Chlanda said they have been putting the plows to work recently as hot and dry conditions have lead to more brush fires over the past week and a half.
He urged people to use caution over the holiday weekend, and said those on campgrounds should make sure campfires are all the way extinguished before walking away.
“Drown the fire with water. Stir it with a shovel and feel it with the back of your hand. If there’s any heat, add more water and do the whole process over again,” said Chlanda.
He even had advice on where to park.
“As we’re driving, the underside of the car is heating up. The catalytic converter and the mufflers are heating up. So parking in tall grass can start a fire and you don’t even notice it,” he said.
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