The drought index, yes, is low, but that s only one of 10 factors we look at. On Thursday, Martin County s drought index, which ranges from 0 to 800 with 800 representing desert-like conditions, was 314, according to the state Division of Forestry s Web site. The average in St. Lucie County was 445. The winds has been our major adversary today. He said St. Lucie County Fire District helped out by covering some of the county s northern stations.
Some residents couldn t understand the wisdom behind issuing a burn permit.
It doesn t make any sense. The Feb. 15 fire broke out the same day the plans for the 472-acre private golf course being built by the McArthur Golf Co., won approval from the Martin County Development Review Committee. In that case, a controlled burn flared out of control for a few hours, charring about 45 more acres than had been planned by the burn. No one was injured and no homes were damaged, although thick smoke spread worry among Poinciana Gardens residents. The Florida Division of Forestry reported it had issued burn permits for that day and that everything was going fine until the 60-acre fire grew to about 105 acres.