A brush fire that erupted in Charlotte County on Saturday has been 95% contained.
The fire started in the Gulf Cove neighborhood of Charlotte County off of Dubarry Avenue.
The flames spread to the Myakka State Forest and came close to two homes, destroying two sheds and a boat.
Firefighters worked through the night to help control the 150-acre blaze.
Initially, the fire was contained completely overnight, but flare-ups began burning on Sunday.
Fire is 95% contained contained at this time. Will update later today pic.twitter.com/JcZ9jXWr6u
— FFS Myakka (@FFS_Myakka) April 24, 2022
On Twitter, Florida Forestry Service – Myakka River said, it was 95% contained.
Firefighters say about 10 acres burned in the area before jumping into the Myakka State Forest in Sarasota County.
“Usually at night the winds die down and humidity goes up. But tonight the winds have stayed really active. It will blow really hard for a couple of minutes and then like now kind of dies down. But they’ve experienced some different winds back over there in the fire,” said Patrick Mahoney, a wildfire mitigation specialist with the Florida Forest Service Myakka River District.
It’s no secret that it is dry in Southwest Florida, so dry that neighbors are making getaway plans before they get the call that it’s time to evacuate.
“My neighbor and I were just talking about three days ago about how it is as dry as it is, we’ve been to get our personal belongings, our expensive belongings in a pile. So if we have to leave at a moment’s notice that we can do that we just had that conversation,” said Charlotte County resident Mark Cote.
It’s a conversation that almost came true for Cote.
“When we saw the initial fire, within an hour, we could see the glow during the day over the trees. I remember seeing cinders flying by me in my backyard going through my neighbor’s on my neighbor’s shed,” said Cote.
Saturday evening that fire started in the Gulf Cove neighborhood off Dubarry Avenue before jumping into the Myakka State Forest.
Fire officials say no one was injured.
“There were several homes that were threatened, and a couple that was damaged. But no, no homes, they were outbuildings and things like that fences that were damaged,” said Mahoney.
It is still a very scary experience for those like Jennifer Fox who lives nearby.
“It was very scary. There was a lot of fire, a lot of smoke. It just kept coming down further and further and on the sprinkler system and pray to God that everybody’s alright,” said Fox.
The Florida Forest Service says the fire is 95% percent contained.
There is a burn ban in effect right now in Charlotte County that means no outdoor burning, including yard waste, recreational fires and no private use of fireworks.
The ban does not apply to outdoor barbecue or cooking equipment that is attended to or burn permits issued by the Florida Forest Service. The ban will remain in effect until repealed by the county commission.
Authorities have not released information on the origins of the fire.
