Use caution: High wildfire risk on Saturday

The Florida Forest Service is listing Lee County in the “very high” wildfire danger index level on Saturday, as a combination of stronger winds, generally dry soil, and lower humidity levels increases the risk of fires in the area. 

Charlotte County is listed as having a high risk of wildfires on Saturday, while Collier, DeSoto, Hendry, and Glades counties remain under the moderate fire risk category.  

Florida Forest Service highlights each Florida county with a fire threat index each day. The threat scale ranges from low to extreme and is issued as a heads-up for people in the area to be aware of the risk of wildfires. 

People in our area can mitigate the risk of wildfires by not parking cars in grassy areas, using care when driving ATVs and grilling in the backyard, property extinguishing cigarettes, and tying up truck chains. But being aware of surroundings and things that don’t involve heat or flames is important this time of year as well. 

Recently in Lehigh Acres, a Mylar balloon let loose in the area hit a power line and started a wildfire. You can read about that incident here.

Saturday’s wildfire threat will be highest in the afternoon. That’s when winds will be strongest, temperatures will be warmest and relative humidity values will be lowest. Forecast data points to relative humidity values trending around or lower than 30 percent for a few hours in inland areas tomorrow, which is in the range worth watching for South Florida. 

Typically fire activity is highest when these values are near or below 30 percent.  

Our team at NBC2 will update you on the wildfire threat Friday at 11 and throughout the weekend on air and online.  

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