‘Cowbell’ scorches more than 17,000 acres

IMMOKALEE, Fla. Firefighters continue to battle a brush fire Saturday inside Big Cypress National Preserve, also known as the ‘Cowbell Fire.’

The blaze has scorched approximately 17,872 acres and is 50 percent contained, the National Park Service said.

Firefighters implemented strategic firing operations to the north and west of the fire to keep it contained east of Kissimmee Billy Strand and south of the Big Cypress Preserve boundary, according to fire officials. Aviation resources also conducted strategic water drops to keep the flames at bay.

The following preserve closures remained in place:

• Pink Jeep, Bear Island and Gator Head Campgrounds
• The road leading into the Sanctuary, except to residents
• All trails between State Road 29, L-28 Canal and north of Interstate 75, including that section of the Florida Trail
• All public lands west of the L-28 Canal, north of Alligator Alley and east of State Road 29

While private lands in the designated closure areas will remain open, residents still need to be careful.

The Cowbell fire is one of the latest in a series of brush fires in Southwest Florida. Approximately 7,230 acres were charred in the Picayune Strand Forest in March. The fire, which lasted nearly a month, was 100 percent controlled on April 2, the FHP said.

The Picayune Strand brush fire forced mandatory evacuations and shut down multiple roads, including Interstate 75 along Alligator Alley. Although almost 1,000 homes were saved from the blaze, which the cause remains unclear, at least four homes were destroyed.

Smaller brush fires have broken out in Lee and Charlotte counties during the dry season.