Watch CBS News

Dry Weather Sparks Everglades Fire Concerns

MIAMI (CBS4) - South Florida's dry winter conditions have prompted wildlife rangers to ask all campers and people who spend time in the Everglades to take care with their cigarette butts and camp fires.

Scott Peterich, a wildfire mitigation specialist at the Everglades District of the Florida Division of Forestry, said this time of year is particularly vulnerable to forest fires. Cooler weather along with limited rainfall has left much of the grasses and shrubbery dried out which increases the chances for dangerous brush fires and wildfires.

Forestry officials are also visiting schools to talk about how to prevent accidental fires.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.