Brush fire starts in woods off East Trail in Lely Resort

A brush fire started near Venture Church in Lely Resort off East Trail and north of Triable Boulevard on Monday night.

The scene was still active at 10 p.m., and smoke could be smelled near the scene. The Greater Naples Fire Chief told WINK News that 50% of the fire is contained within less than an acre. The chief also believes it possibly started from a nearby camp.

A deputy with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office says a passerby called the sheriff’s office about the fire. CCSO says no structures were damaged, and the fire remains in the woods.

The fire chief said they did have to turn off the power lines so firefighters could work safely.

One unit from the Marco Island Fire Department, along with CCSO, Florida Power and Light, and the Division of Forestry, is at the scene with the Greater Naples Fire Department.

WINK News spoke to Anthony Lopizzi, who owns a building nearby. He says he panicked after receiving a text saying the building may catch on fire.

“One of my tenants gave me a call as I was getting off I-75 and said the building was on fire. So, needless to say, my heart was pounding, and I rushed to get over here on my way home to find out that it was a pretty big fire in the woods… in the vacant lot behind the building,” Lopizzi said. “The flames came about 10 feet from the building, and thank God for Naples Fire Rescue and Marco Island to come here and grab ahold of it so it wouldn’t spread.”

A forestry tractor arrived around 9 p.m., and once they put a line around the flames, it will be fully contained.