Brush fires are threatening more than 2,000 homes in southwest Florida, and the Florida National Guard is helping to evacuate residents.
Gov. Rick Scott said in a statement Friday that he deployed the guard and five UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters to help fight 100-foot flames in Collier County. Officials said one brush fire had grown to nearly 5,000 acres and was 10 percent contained as of Friday. Roughly 100 deputies went door to door Friday.
Florida Forest Service’s Clark Ryals said the fire was moving northwest up Inez Road, where it had caught three homes. The News-Press reported an exotic animal sanctuary was also in danger.
Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said he saw propane tanks exploding and buildings burning where the fire affected a nursery, chemical warehouse and sod company.
Topics Florida
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