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Wildfire along NB I-75 in Charlotte County now at 98 acres, 85 percent contained

Smoke and flames could be seen near I-75 in Charlotte County Saturday afternoon.
Jennifer Crawford/WGCU
Smoke and flames could be seen near I-75 in Charlotte County Saturday afternoon.

A wildfire of undetermined origin that started burning alongside northbound Interstate 75 Saturday afternoon and evening with smoke and flames visible from the freeway has grown to 98 acres.

By Sunday evening fire officials from the Myakka unit of the Florida Forest Service said the blaze was at 85 percent contained.

The FFS was handling the blaze with at least one helicopter dropping water Saturday. Some smoke could still be seen along the east side of I-75 by mile marker 151 Sunday morning.

Smoke from a 77-acre wildfire in Charlotte County east of the northbound lanes of I-75 could still be seen Sunday evening.
FDOT camera
Smoke from a 77-acre wildfire in Charlotte County east of the northbound lanes of I-75 could still be seen Sunday evening.
A helicopter drops water on a fire east of I-75 in Charlotte County Saturday night.
FDOT I-75 camera
A helicopter drops water on a fire east of I-75 in Charlotte County Saturday night.

There was also a 97-acre fire in Hendry County, called the White Gate Fire, and a nearly 37-acre fire in DeSoto County, called the East Grove County Line Fire, that were both 95 percent contained as of Saturday evening.

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