The Board of County Commissioners authorized a burn ban in Collier County effective immediately, according to a press release sent out Wednesday morning.
The ban prohibits open burning, which is any outdoor fire or open combustion of material that produces visible emissions. It includes the burning of trash, yard waste and vegetative matter resulting from landscaping and yard maintenance operations, according to the news release.
A fire in the 14th Avenue area of Golden Gate Estates in Collier County that broke out Saturday affected up to 1,500 acres at the peak and destroyed two homes. As of Tuesday night the fire remained burning in 900 acres but was 80% contained.