5 brush fires spark in Collier, Hendry counties

Photo via Twitter/Immokalee Fire Control District

Fire crews are working to extinguish the flames of five brush fires Wednesday in Collier and Hendry counties, the Florida Forest Service said.

Greater Naples Fire Rescue District, Florida Forest Service, Immokalee Fire Control District, and a chopper with Collier County are on scene.

Two other brush fires are burning, according to fire officials, but information on the exact locations and amounts of acreage were unclear.

The cause of the fires are also unclear.

Collier County

‘Greenway fire’

The Greenway Fire has scorched 75 acres and is 85 percent contained, according to the Florida Forest Service.

Samantha Quinn, a Florida Forest Service Mitigation Specialist, said the wind speed contributed to the fire’s containment percentage.

“Because of the excessive wind speeds, we did have a containment line in place, but it actually because of the winds, the fire actually jumped the containment line so that’s why the containment went down from 20 percent down to (15) percent,” Quinn said.

Incident 99 #GreenwayFire is 75 acres and 85% contained. Firefighters will be monitoring containment lines through the night. #FlFire #Flwildfire #wildfire

— FFS Caloosahatchee (@FFS_cafc) March 22, 2018

Incident 99 #GreenwayFire wildland dozers working to contain the #wildfire #Flfires #Flwildfire pic.twitter.com/d3eVDnIHjY
— FFS Caloosahatchee (@FFS_cafc) March 21, 2018

Incident 99 #GreenwayFire is 50 acres and 15% contained. 2 wildland firefighting dozers continuing to work on containing the #wildfire gusting winds are fueling spot fires #FlFire #FlWildfire @GN_Fire
— FFS Caloosahatchee (@FFS_cafc) March 21, 2018

Incident 99 #GreenwayFire is 40 acres and 10% contained. Strong eratic winds. Updates to follow. #CollierCounty #FlFire #FlWildfire #wildfire
— FFS Caloosahatchee (@FFS_cafc) March 21, 2018

Incident 99 #GreenwayFire #CollierCounty no structures threatened 30 acres and 20% contained #FlWildfire #FlFire pic.twitter.com/MTY1Z2Kjdw
— FFS Caloosahatchee (@FFS_cafc) March 21, 2018

Incident 99 #GreenwayFire #CollierCounty wildland firefighter is on scene, 15 acres #FlWildfire #wildfire #Flfires
— FFS Caloosahatchee (@FFS_cafc) March 21, 2018

‘Flagpond fire’

The fire has charred 100 acres in the Picayune Strand State Forest, fire officials said. Fire officials are actively containing the brush fire.

Incident 100 #FlagPondFire is 100 acres and firefighters are actively containing the #wildfire Air support will be flying the #wildfire in the morning for more accurate mapping. #FlFire #Flwildfire
— FFS Caloosahatchee (@FFS_cafc) March 22, 2018

Incident 100 #FlagPondFire is now 60% contained. No structures threatened at this time. #FlFire #Flwildfire #wildfire
— FFS Caloosahatchee (@FFS_cafc) March 21, 2018

Incident 100 #FlagPondFire #CollierCounty crews are working to contain the #wildfire @ImmFire_PIO #FlFire #FlWildfire pic.twitter.com/AX9sEejezJ
— FFS Caloosahatchee (@FFS_cafc) March 21, 2018

Incident 100 #CollierCounty #FlagPondFire 20 acres is 20% contained. Located in Picayune Strand State Forest. 1 medium dozer and 1 heavy dozer on scene. A second medium dozer is en route… at this time structures are not in immediate risk. #FlFire #Flwildfire #wildfire
— FFS Caloosahatchee (@FFS_cafc) March 21, 2018

Hendry County

‘West Boundary fire’

The fire, located near Hendry County Jail, has burned 800 acres and is 15 percent contained, according to fire officials. No structures are threatened.

Incident 98 #WestBoundaryFire is 800 acres and 15% contained. Winds have decreased, firefighters will be working through the night to increase containment. #FlFire #Flwildfire #wildfire
— FFS Caloosahatchee (@FFS_cafc) March 22, 2018

Incident 98 #WestBoundaryFire is 800 acres and 10% contained. Additional resources have been requested to assist with containment. No structures are threatened at this time. #FlFire #Flwildfire #wildfire @ImmFire_PIO
— FFS Caloosahatchee (@FFS_cafc) March 21, 2018

Incident 98 #WestBoundaryFire is still 300 acres #FlFire #Flwildfire #wildfire @ImmFire_PIO pic.twitter.com/aDhL3TfIuh
— FFS Caloosahatchee (@FFS_cafc) March 21, 2018

300 Acre #WestBoundaryFire in @HendryCountyEM – We’re assisting @FFS_cafc & Seminole Fire to contain. Heavy fuels & gusty winds making it a challenge. pic.twitter.com/jeFJvo7hFH
— Immokalee Fire (@ImmFire_PIO) March 21, 2018

Incident 98 #CollierCounty #WestBoundaryFire by Hendry County Correctional is 300 acres, no structures threatened. @ImmFire_PIO assisting with containment #FlWildfire #wildfire #Flfires
— FFS Caloosahatchee (@FFS_cafc) March 21, 2018

Potential for fire danger across SWFL

Much of South Florida is under a Red Flag warning Wednesday due to low relative humidity and high winds.

Quinn advised Southwest Florida residents to be prepared in the event of an evacuations.

DO YOU HAVE A PLAN? With high fire activity throughout #SWFL residents should be ready for potential evacuations. #OnlyYou #BePrepared #ReadySetGo pic.twitter.com/a409a1Lqj0
— FFS Caloosahatchee (@FFS_cafc) March 21, 2018

Ready, set, go: Planning, preparation tips ahead of fire season

Southwest Florida residents living near a wooded area are encouraged to plan and prepare ahead of fire season.

According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, it’s up to homeowners to thoroughly protect their family, home and property in case of a wildfire emergency.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services offers a personal wildfire action plan called “Ready, Set, Go!” which includes the following categories: