The Lee County ban on outdoor burning that has lasted since January 20 is over.
Recent rains have finally driven the drought index down enough for the county to rescind the burn ban.
According to the widely-used Keetch-Byram Drought Index the mean average was 463 out of 800 on May 26. Commissioners had extended the ban for a 17th time. It was allowed to expire when it ran its course on May 27.
When the burn ban was imposed in January the drought index was at 637 out of 800. A measure of 600 prompts a state of emergency which calls for the burn ban.
The county says it coordinates with the Lee County Fire Chiefs’ Association and the Florida Forest Service, both of which supported allowing the ban to end.
The ban specifically prohibited any outdoor burning not associated with cooking.
The Cape Coral Fire Department rescinded its burn ban May 26.
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Charlie Whitehead covers Lee County and Fort Myers. Reach him at Cwhitehead@gannett.com
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Lee County, Cape Coral end burn bans
Reporting by Charlie Whitehead, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
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