Small recreational backyard fires (fire ring, chiminea, clean-wood campfire) are allowed in Lee County when no burn ban is in effect and Florida Forest Service safety rules are met. During a drought State of Local Emergency, all open backyard fires are banned; food grills remain exempt.
Lee County treats a contained recreational campfire like yard-waste burning: keep it within an 8-foot-diameter pile or non-combustible container, burn only clean dry wood or vegetative debris (no garbage, plastics, or treated wood), clear bare soil around it, keep water and a shovel on hand, and never leave it unattended. When the Keetch-Byram Drought Index reaches 600 or higher, the Board of County Commissioners adopts a burn ban that prohibits "outdoor burning ignition sources," including campfires and bonfires, until conditions improve. Municipalities may set stricter rules, so residents inside a city should confirm local limits.
Open backyard burning during an active burn ban can be cited by the fire district or Forest Service; anyone whose fire escapes may be liable for suppression costs and damage to neighboring property.
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Lee County, FL
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Lee County, FL
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Lee County, FL
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Lee County, FL
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Lee County, FL
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Lee County, FL
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