TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Some Tampa Bay area residents said their neighbors were burning hurricane debris and blowing fumes into their homes through open windows because they had no power.

As a drier season approaches, the roadside shrub can easily spread in burns and become a neighborhood hazard if people aren’t careful.

“I came out because I smelled smoke,” Molly Toth said.

She said Saturday that one of her neighbors burned debris and the smoke filled her home in St. Petersburg.

She wasn’t entirely sure what her neighbor was burning.

“Whatever it was, it smelled really bad. So when the wastewater is saturated with dirt, you burn it – it’s toxic,” Toth said.

Toth called 911, worried others might do the same.

St. Petersburg Fire Rescue posted notices on social media reminding residents that open burning of debris, construction materials, yard waste or trash is strictly prohibited.

The Hillsborough County Fire Department said there were reports of burning debris in Seffner, Brandon and Plant City.

Todd Chlanda of the Florida Forest Service said burning yard waste is allowed in Polk County under certain conditions. He said Hillsborough and Pinellas counties do not allow open yard burning for any reason.

“People in these counties are not used to having incineration facilities available and that is the reason why they do not allow incineration of yard waste because of the large population,” Chlanda said. “It doesn’t take long for all this debris to dry out and become dangerous. If left unchecked, it could get out of control and start a wildfire.”

He said it would be safer if county and city authorities picked up the debris. However, many people have complained that they wanted to remove the dirt faster.

Toth asks people everywhere to be patient.

“You have to think about your neighbors,” Toth said. “You can’t just think about your garden. Everyone has the same situation.”

Hillsborough County hired additional outside contractors to clean up storm debris. Starting Wednesday, they ask that the leaves and small twigs be picked up at the curb in bags or containers as part of the weekly household waste collection.

They said storm debris companies only target loose yard waste and large piles of tree debris.

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