Related coverage: Driver captures Polk County brush fire on video

BARTOW, Fla. (WFLA) — In a concerning development, a teacher from Bartow High School has found himself in legal trouble after a backyard burn went awry, igniting a brush fire. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office reports that Brian Webster, 57, faces misdemeanor charges for the incident.

For several months, Polk County, among other regions in the Tampa Bay area, has been under a stringent burn ban due to persistent drought conditions affecting much of Florida. These measures are crucial to preventing such accidents and protecting the community and environment.