The Greenway Fire burned more than 6,000 acres in Florida as of Sunday, March 25, 2018. Photo: Greater Naples Fire Rescue
Spring has sprung, and so have wildfires in parched parts of Florida.
The Greenway Fire, burned 6,600 acres by Sunday afternoon and was 20 percent contained, according to Greater Naples Fire Rescue. A 17-acre spot fire was complicating efforts, and crews have worked to keep the blaze from reaching southwest Florida communities, including VeronaWalk and Winding Cypress.
“As long as wind conditions do not unexpectedly change, the outlook for these communities looks favorable as of this report,” fire officials said Sunday.
Incident 99 #GreenwayFire spot fire of 10-15 acres outside containment lines. Dozer Strike Team working on containment. #FLFire #Flwildfire #wildfire pic.twitter.com/j46S3WhYrQ
— Caloosahatchee FC (@FFS_cafc) March 24, 2018
Elsewhere, the 116th Ave SE Fire was listed at 8,000 acres and 45 percent contained Sunday, per the the Caloosahatchee Forestry Center. This fire is moving toward the Flag Pond Fire, which burned 2,600 acres and was 100 percent contained Sunday — at least one occupied RV/home was destroyed, officials said.
Each of the fires was caused by lightning, officials said.
The Florida Forest Service and the Collier County Sheriff’s Office were assisting in the effort, with teams conducting water drops in the area.
Fires in western Collier Cnty, #FL have smoke plumes that extend out past the Dry Tortugas (top). #GOES satellite detecting the hot temps from the fires (bottom). An example of how new satellite technology is helping the #NWS quickly detect & track developing wildfires. #flwx pic.twitter.com/cOZDJx3Vq8
— NWS Tampa Bay (@NWSTampaBay) March 23, 2018
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam and the Florida Forest Service last week urged Floridians to exercise caution due to significantly heightened wildfire risk throughout the state. Despite recent rainfall, drought conditions throughout the state are expected to continue — the Florida Forest Service has worked more than 700 wildfires across the state since the start of this year 2018.
“Florida’s wildland firefighters have proven time and again that they are prepared to put their lives on the line to keep Floridians safe,” Putnam said. “Floridians can do their part by keeping preventable human-caused wildfires at bay and preparing their families and homes for wildfire.”
