Days after two brush fires ignited in Collier County burning nearly 800 acres total, officials said one of them is fully contained.
Since Monday, May 18, Florida Forest Service officials have monitored two brush fires on Rifle Range and Inez roads. By May 19, one of the two blazes remained 100% controlled.
The flames near Inez Road covered 135 acres with a 100% containment as of May 19, while the fire in the area of Rifle Range Road, near the Picayune Strand State Forest, grew to 650 acres with a 85% containment about 6:45 p.m. May 19, officials said Wednesday morning. Several fire districts battled the flames along with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, who provided a helicopter.
Jesse Lavender, spokesperson for the Florida Forest Service, said lightning caused the larger blaze near Rifle Range Road, and that officials are continued to work to determine what triggered the fire near Inez Road.
The two fires come about a month after a 1,700-acre fire burned through Picayune Strand State Forest, forcing scores of trailers to evacuate nearby horses.
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 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.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: One of two Collier County brush fires fully contained, officials say
Reporting by Tomas Rodriguez, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
