JUSTIN MARTIN The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District's Board of Fire Commissioners voted unanimously for a prohibition on outdoor fires at its Tuesday meeting.

Outdoor fires have been prohibited in Lehigh Acres for up to two months, effective immediately.

The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District’s Board of Fire Commissioners voted unanimously for a prohibition on outdoor fires at its Tuesday meeting. The order takes effect immediately and lasts 60 days, with an option for Fire Chief Robert Dilallo to end the prohibition earlier if he deems it is safe.

The sanction comes on the heels of a 400-acre fire that raged in Lehigh over the weekend, destroying four homes, a barn and several vehicles, as well as damaging several additional structures and vehicles.

Commissioner Robert Anderson brought forward the initial measure to declare a state of emergency and burn ban for Lehigh. Board attorney Richard Pringle explained that the “state of emergency” term has a specific legal meaning and the fire district’s board does not have the authority to authorize one.

Commissioner Matt Smith expressed frustration with the legal restrictions.

“How many acres have to burn before this becomes important?” he asked. “I am not just looking at this as just endangering the public, I am also looking at it as endangering our personnel, who go out and fight these fires.”

“Enough is enough,” Smith added.

Pringle explained to the board that only Lee County has the authority to declare or legally enforce a state of emergency and burn ban.

“You cannot declare a state of emergency,” he said. “The only entity that can declare a state of emergency is the county.”

Dilallo pointed out that local fire officials have repeatedly requested that Lee County institute a ban. However, the county has a higher threshold than most fire departments and districts for instituting such an emergency measure, which is why it has not followed others like Collier County in declaring one.

Pringle advised the board to pass a prohibition, then write a letter to county officials in support of a local burn ban. The board voted 5-0 to approve the prohibition and send the letter to Lee County.

On Tuesday, the board also approved the purchase of a 14.7-acre property at 44 Homestead Road. Station 102, which is currently located on Homestead, must be moved due to the start of the county’s project to widen the road. The new property will house the replacement station due to the project.

The district will buy the land for $560,000, with $1,000 already spent on a land use change permit.

According to Dilallo, a market assessment done on Station 102 predicts that the district can expect to receive about $881,000 for the old property – $1.2 million if the station is factored into the deal.