Local News 5-30-24

Had enough of brushfire season yet? Yesterday afternoon, residents in the Blue Moon, Moon River Avenue and Jack Weissner Boulevard in Sun N Lakes Estates south of Lake Placid got evacuated from their homes for a while because of a flareup in the Sunflower Drive area … Highlands County Fire Rescue and the state Forestry Service responded to the blaze and let folks return to their homes a little after 6pm.

Another brush fire over in Hardee County charred about 700 acres near DeVane Road and County Road 664 just outside Bowling Green. Fire crews made multiple stops and kept it from damaging any homes and said the blaze was under control as of late last night.

Meanwhile, at Sun N Lake of Sebring, the Development District sent out a note yesterday to residents warning them if it stinks of smoke in the morning, odds are it’s still some smoldering embers from that 100-acre-plus brush fire fire-rescue crews got under control west of the District last week. There’s still smoke out there, but the District suggested residents still stay alert. The humidity and calm winds in the morning means the aroma travels blocks away from the site.

The Burn Ban in the County, by the way, IS in effect through June 20th. Last week the County Commission also approved the maximum fire assessment rate in the County for your property tax bills next year. Worst case scenario – your fire assessment on a 1500 square foot home could be $109 next year. The Commission approves and notices the maximum they’re likely to approve to avoid multiple public notices on matters like that. The Commission also started the ball rolling on turning Sun N Lake Boulevard over to the Sun N Lake improvement District – that’s the main street running by Advent Health Sebring. It’s currently the only main thoroughfare in Sun N Lake not maintained and regulated by the Improvement District.