Wildfires

A temporary trail closure in the Big Cypress National Preserve is in effect after the discovery Saturday of a more than 340-acre fire east of State Road 29 and north of Deep Lake.The temporary closures include the Deep Lake Trail (including Trail Head) and the Fire Prairie Trail. During the closure all recreational use including off-road vehicles, hiking, camping, hunting and commercial activities are prohibited in the designated areas.

A water shortage in Cape Coral and Lee County. Parched soil and worsening drought throughout Southwest Florida. Wildfires are expected next, and not small ones.The restrictions were put into place to protect the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer and drinking water supply in that area. The area affected is bound by NE Pine Island Road on the south, Neilson Road N on the west, NE 24th Avenue and Garden Boulevard on the east and the Gator Slough Canal on the north.

The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning from noon to 7 p.m. today for Southwest Florida areas including Lee, DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte counties.A combination of warm temperatures this afternoon, low relative humidity values, and sustained winds greater than 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph will create Red Flag conditions across much of west central and Southwest Florida this afternoon.At the same time a number of brush fires were being fought.

A six-acre wildfire in Naples caused homeowners to evacuate, and Sarasota County added itself to the growing list of counties with an outdoor burn ban

Florida's wildfire season is heating up early this year. Right now, blazes surround Southwest Florida

A Red Flag Warning has been issued for today due to critically low humidity with gusty winds resulting in elevated fire danger in areas of Southwest Florida.The National Weather Service issued the Fire Weather Warning for an area including Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota and Manatee counties from noon to 8 p.m. today.

The Lee Board of County Commissioners Tuesday voted to award a $1.8 million contract for a a Regional Alternative Source Water Study in east Lee County and Lehigh Acres and a $174,334 proposal to develop a countywide wildfire protection plan.In other action, the Lee Board of County Commissioners also voted Tuesday to approve an agreement with Collaboratory to allow the county to address a series of objectives included in the $19.3 million Community Change Grant through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to tackle environmental challenges related to disaster preparedness.

The National Park Service in conjunction with the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida and the Bureau of Indian Affairs will be conducting a joint prescribed fire operation in late January and continuing through February. The 151,434-acre Boundary Prescribed Fire Project — sited south of U.S. 41 between mile markers 36 and 44, including the Miccosukee Reserved Area — removes jurisdictional boundaries to complete prescribed burns with the assistance of federal, Tribal, state and local resources.

Southwest Florida may be the driest part of the state right now, but forecasters are in agreement that they have no clue what comes next: a rough wildfire season, or calm in the woods

There were no structures in danger, fire officials said.