Whether or not Lehigh firefighters will be mowing lawns of foreclosed homes has hit a snag. And before grown over laws with tall grass will be cut, the Lehigh Acres Fire and Rescue Board of Commissioners will have to talk about it.

The plan came about when firefighters went to Assistant Chief Diana Watson with an idea to spend idle time out mowing overgrown lawns of a large number of foreclosed homes. They would have fire engines at the site and if called for an emergency, they would be ready to respond quickly.

Watson said the board will meet on Oct. 21 at 4 p.m. to discuss the issue. She said a hold has been placed on the plan until further notice.

She said liability is an issue and whether firefighters can volunteer their own time while on duty will be securitized.

Originally, firefighters came forth when some of them made comments that several homes in Lehigh were overgrown with grass and brush and were empty and nobody was mowing the lawns.

These homes are undergoing foreclosure, but have not reached the stage where they have become bank-owned, which would make mortgage holders responsible for the task.

Some of the reasons offered by firefighters included the need to remove dangerous dry brush from homes in an attempt to keep wildfires from starting or spreading.

The rainy season is coming to an end and brush not attended to will go up in flames like gasoline if a cigarette were to be tossed out a window or if a fire was started by lightning or some other means.

“We’ll know more about whether we can proceed after the commissioners meet next week,” Watson said. Of special concern is the liability issue, she said.