Polk County, Florida - Recent rains have reduced the threat of wildfires in Polk County prompting the Fire Chief to repeal Polk's burn ban as of Friday, May 10.

Citizens are now allowed to burn trash, yard debris, campfires, bonfires, and construction debris, though per state law, the use of fireworks remains prohibited.

It is possible a burn ban could be reinstated if there is a severe lack of rain and/or extremely dry conditions develop in Polk between now and the start of the normal summer rainy season.

Bartow, Florida -- It's sort of like an amnesty day for your household hazardous chemicals. Disposing of such materials properly can sometimes become expensive, but county officials don't want people resorting to dumping the items, because it can damage the environment.

So now, Polk County residents, including folks from Bartow, can safely dispose of household hazardous waste and electronic equipment for free during a collection event hosted by the county's Waste Resource Management Division.

Florida-- Trees, lakes, trails, wildlife- they're all things that come to mind when thinking about Florida's parks. Techonology, smartphones and applications, howeverm are probably the last things to come to mind- until now!

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Park Services department has announced the launch of their new, free mobile application, which will serve as an interactive guide for users on the go at any of Florida's 171 parks, trails and historic sites.