Bonita Springs weekend wildfire 95% contained

First responders are making progress on fires that have destroyed a manufactured home, some cars, and other property.

The wildfires started over the weekend closing roads and forcing evacuations after damaging Bonita Springs.

The fire is 95% contained and under control, but, because the wind shifted directions, crews are working to avoid the smoke from getting to the interstate.

Cullum Hasty was at his home off Kent Road in Bonita Springs on Saturday when the wildfire began.

“I was home, Hasty said. “And I went in the kitchen, looked off the kitchen window, which looks through North.. and saw the smoke.”

Monday Hasty told WINK News his home is okay and he’s thankful to be alive.

“It was a miracle that the house… I mean the house, almost, it was almost. It was touching the house already when the fire engines got back. I rode my bicycle up there to get fire engines and see if I get one back here,” Hasty said. “Luckily somebody just heard me yell and carrying on and came right away and got this put out.”

“It was just multiple fires. We had at least 10 fires along the interstate, which spread to this neighborhood these two neighborhood areas,” Greg Dewitt, the Bonita Springs Fire Control & Rescue Fire Chief, said.

The flames quickly spread and became one of the biggest wildfires in the area totaling 30 acres in size.

“I thought it was cloudy, it may rain… turns out that was black smoke from fire so I jumped up and got into action. My neighbors over here… immediate threat. The flames were heading towards his house and they weren’t home I checked and so I, you know, grabbed what water hoses of theirs I could, spent most of the time there, and also kept an eye on my house but the wind direction was putting it to the northeast,” Bonita Springs resident Charlie Strader, said.

Chief Dewitt told WINK News that firefighters from all over the county continue to assist with the operations.

Chief Dewitt also said crews think a spark on the interstate started the fire. Going on to explain how dry it is by the interstate and asked everyone to please be cautious until there is more rain.