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Campfires banned on water district conservation lands due to dry conditions
Environment  |  Wed - June 5, 2024 12:14 am  |  Article Hits:312  |  A+ | a-
 
Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD)
June 4, 2024

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (water district) is prohibiting campfires and other sources of open flames on water district conservation lands, in conjunction with numerous county burn bans, due to dry conditions.

Lack of rainfall during spring of 2024 has made grasses and other light vegetation extremely dry and volatile, increasing the potential for wildfires. Burning is thereby prohibited on the water district properties listed below, with camping, until sufficient rains occur and county burn bans are lifted:
• Cypress Creek Preserve - Land O Lakes, Florida
• Deep Creek Preserve -  Arcadia, Florida
• Flying Eagle Preserve - Inverness, Florida
• Green Swamp East, Hampton Tract - Lakeland, Florida
• Green Swamp East Tract - Webster, Florida
• Green Swamp West Tract - Dade City, Florida
• Lake Panasoffkee - Lake Panasoffkee, Florida
• Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve - Thonotosassa, Florida
• Potts Preserve - Inverness, Florida
• Serenova Tract - Land O Lakes, Florida
• Upper Hillsborough Preserve - Zephyrhills, Florida

The water district is also asking campers and other outdoor enthusiasts to take the following precautions when on water district lands:
• Be careful with gas lanterns, gas stoves and anything that can be a source of ignition for a wildfire.
• All vehicles must stay on designated roadways or trails. Avoid driving vehicles on roads with tall, dead grass.
• Vehicle catalytic converters get very hot and can quickly ignite dry brush or other vegetation like pine needles or dead leaves. Avoid parking vehicles in areas of dead grass, brush or other vegetation. Park in areas with little or no vegetation or over low “green” vegetation.
• Dispose of smoking materials properly; do not toss them on the ground.
• Carry a shovel and fire extinguisher in your vehicle.

The water district asks, that if you see a fire while on a water district land, please call 911. For updates on water district land restrictions, visit WaterMatters.org/Recreation.

The water district owns and manages approximately 460,000 acres of environmentally sensitive lands for water resource and the protection of natural systems.
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