Teacher's Backyard Debris Burn Ignites 5-Acre Brush Fire: Bartow High School Educator Arrested, Sheriff Reports

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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.

Webster admitted to deputies that he was burning cardboard boxes and other debris in his backyard on Cox Road on Sunday, February 15. He had attempted to contain the fire by using an old refrigerator as a makeshift fire pit. Despite his efforts to monitor the flames, the situation quickly escalated beyond his control, leading to the brush fire.

The incident highlights the importance of adhering to local fire regulations, especially during times of environmental distress, to prevent potentially dangerous situations from occurring.

A combination of severe drought conditions and high winds caused the small backyard fire to rapidly spread to roughly five acres of land. PCSO said it was one of over 30 brush fires that fire rescue battled on Sunday.

Webster is a teacher at Bartow High School, but its unclear what his current employment status is after his arrest.

“There is good reason why Polk County officials issued the burn ban, and Sunday’s numerous brush fires are a perfect example of that,” Sheriff Grady Judd said. “Additionally, Governor Ron DeSantis declared a State of Emergency recently due to extreme drought. Property and lives are at risk, and we will charge people appropriately.”

He was charged with reckless land burning, burning during a state of emergency, reckless pollution and violating the county burn ban.