Despite rains that extremely dry ground siphoned up almost as soon as it fell Thursday, Friday and Saturday, several brush fires still managed to erupt across the area.
Fire crews are working on a 350-acre wildfire that was reported Friday within the northwest corner of Big Cypress National Preserve. The fire is just across I-75 from the large National fire that burned in February and March.
Called the Hilux (HI-LUXE) Fire, it is burning in an area of pines and prairie landscape north of Interstate-75 and east of State Road 29, near Bear Island Campground. When it was spotted Friday evening, it was burning in a 250-acre area.
Local ground and aviation crews are actively fighting the fire. Fire officials said additional resources have been requested.
Smoke impacts can be expected along SR 29, and on private lands and surrounding communities north of the preserve. No impacts are expected to Alligator Alcatraz. Florida Highway Patrol units are watching for possible smoke issues along I-75.
Due to the location of the fire, the active fire behavior and weather conditions, fire managers have implemented an area closure for all areas north of I-75, west of Bundschu Grade, south of Big Cypress Boundary, and east of SR 29. This includes Bear Island, Gator Head, and Pink Jeep Campgrounds (please see attached map).
Additionally, residents in the closure area are being advised to:
- Be in “Ready” status, signaling there is an active wildfire in the area.
- Monitor updates via Big Cypress National Preserve web alerts at Alerts & Conditions - Big Cypress National Preserve (U.S. National Park Service) - and local media.
There are no immediate threats to residents at this time.
More rain was due for Southwest Florida in the coming week.
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In Lehigh Acres on Friday afternoon, the fire department reported a roughly 12 acre fire in an area of an old citrus grove. A fire department public information office said fire crews successfully protected all structures in danger.
The fire was considered out with crews "mopping up" hot spots later Friday. Lehigh Fire was assisted by Estero, San Carlos Fire Departments along with the Florida Forestry Service.
Residents in the area were told to expect to see and smell smoke for a while and were encouraged to call 911 for any fires occurring on the outside of the burned area.
Late Thursday an 83-acre fire causing smoke forced the closure of a lane of I-75 northbound in Charlotte County near the Lee County line. Sustained rains helped to keep that fire from spreading.
Other fires now under control included a less than one-acre burn off the east side of US 431 in North Fort Myers, a nearly 3 acre fire on Rasmussen Road in Charlotte County that was 80 percent contained Saturday evening, and a one acre fire also in Charlotte County near Waldrun Avenue that was 90 percent contained as of Saturday afternoon.
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