Highlands County Fire units from Desoto City, Lorida, West Sebring, Leisure Lakes, and Highlands Park are among the crews working a fire this morning at the County Landfill off Arbuckle Creek Road. Action started about 3am. Expect activity putting this one out for a while … the County Fire Rescue folks term this a – quote – “long term incident.”
Speaking of fires, a little over a month into the new year, wildfire season is on in this part of Florida. So far, it’s been a somewhat quiet – although not perfect – dry season. Florida Forest Service figures posted this week for the month of January listed seven wildfires in Highlands County with a total burn of only 22.1 acres of land. Neighboring Counties included Glades County with fewer fires – three – but more acreage burned last month, and Okeechobee, where their three wildfires charred only 8.6 acres before being brought under control.
It’s a busy weekend ahead in Highlands County – the County Fair opens up tomorrow night, the Roaring Twenties Arts Festival is Saturday, on and around the Sebring Downtown Circle, and there are some visitors in town, some of whom may not speak English. Bike Sebring begins at 6:30 Saturday morning at Sebring International Raceway with a couple hundred bicyclists from all over the world, many of whom are trying to qualify for the Race Across America by racking up mileage for 24 solid hours. Bike Sebring draws ultracycling enthusiasts from all continents, and this year a brand challenge between those low-slung recumbent brands is spicing up the race, meaning more reason to add a little extra look while making a turn or leaving a stop sign this weekend.