Editor’s note: This story is updated as additional information is reported.
Evacuations have begun as a brush fire burns in the Picayune Strand State Forest.
By 7:15 p.m., the Florida Forestry Service reported the blaze had rapidly grown to 1,000 acres and was 15% contained.
Some streets near the fire are being evacuated, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office posted on social media.
Those areas included sections of Stable Way, Union Drive, Barton Gliba Drive, Benfield Road, Beck Boulevard and Le Buff Road.
The North Collier Fire Rescue District announced at 6:15 p.m. that additional evacuations have not been announced, but area residents should be on alert and monitoring developments.
Those residents include those east of Collier Boulevard and south from Beck Boulevard to Rattlesnake Hammock Road.
The Florida Forestry Service and Greater Naples Fire began fighting active brush fire off Newman Drive off Beck Blvd. around noon April 13. The sheriff’s Aviation Unit is assisting by dropping buckets of water.
By 6 p.m., the fire had grown to 550 acres and was 15% contained, according to the Florida Forestry Service’s wildfire map, nearly doubling within an hour.
Florida Highway Patrol says I-75 is open, but could change
At 6 p.m., Florida Highway Patrol state troopers announced they are monitoring the wildfire in the area of Interstate 75 (Alligator Alley), from mile markers 95 to 100, in Collier County.
]Interstate 75 lanes remained open and visibility was good. Motorists traveling through the area are urged to use caution, reduce speed, and remain alert for any changing conditions, they said in a news release.
Safe haven open for fire evacuees in Naples
Collier County reported that a safe haven for fire evacuees is open at the Golden Gate Community Center, 4701 Golden Gate Parkway, Naples.
This is the only shelter currently open, and this shelter is pet-friendly. Please bring all supplies with you to the shelter:
∎ Prescription medications
∎Sleeping bag or bed roll, blanket, pillow
∎ Books, magazines, and electronic entertainment items with headphones
∎ Change of clothing
∎ Snacks or special foods
∎ Baby/Children’s diapers, formula, etc.
∎ Pet vaccination records
∎ Pet food
∎ Weapons and alcoholic beverages are not permitted.
For more information, call the Golden Gate Community Center Safe Haven at (239) 252-4180 or visit/follow the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, Greater Naples Fire Rescue, and local media.
The Florida Forest Service – Caloosahatchee Forestry Center, which serves Lee, Collier and Hendry counties, is leading the firefighting efforts, along with Greater Naples Fire Rescue .
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is assisting firefighters with helicopters in the area.
Picayune Strand State Forest is the fourth-largest state forest in Florida, named after several cypress strands on the eastern portion of the property.
The 74,138-acre forest has two tracts, the South Golden Gates Estates Tract, where the current fire is, and the Belle Meade Tract to the west.
Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@usatodayco.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Bluesky @tomasfrodriguez.
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This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Fire burns hundreds of acres at Picayune Strand State Forest
Reporting by Tomas Rodriguez and Stacey Henson, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
