Fire crews continue battling flare ups in Labelle

LABELLE, Fla.- Forestry crews are still at the site of Thursday night’s massive fire.

A Florida Forest Service spokesman tells WINK News the flames consumed more than 200 acres of land owned by Alico Inc., the large orange-growing corporation.

Although the fire was contained Thursday night, there were still several flare ups in the area Friday.

The owner of an adjacent property says he’d hoped the flames wouldn’t cross the canal onto
his property but they did.

A spokesman with the Labelle Fire Department says this is the biggest fire the city has seen in years.

Thursday’s strong winds of around 20 mph swept the flames and kept the fire spreading throughout thick pastures of palmettos and pine forests.

No orange groves or sugar cane crops were damaged and livestock seems to be faring well with the smoke.

Fire investigators say they still haven’t determined what started the fire.