Collier County fire 50% contained at 8,663 acres

The Florida Forest Service crews along with multiple other fire agencies continue to monitor hot spots Sunday as they work to contain the 36th Avenue SE fire in Golden Gate Estates. “The fire didn’t grow,” said Julie Allen, public information officer with FFS. The FFS said Sunday the fire is still at 8,663 acres but […]

Family suffers property losses, but thankful firefighters saved Golden Gate Estates home

Evacuated families in Collier County are making their way back to their homes this weekend after firefighters said they could return amid the large fire near them. Their neighborhoods are black and charred as the flames have continued for days. There are still some fire hoses around a family’s yard in Golden Gates Estates. It’s […]

More businesses set to open under ‘full phase one’

Restaurants and retail stores can increase their capacity to 50% Monday, and gyms can reopen under guided restrictions. Professional sports teams are welcome to Florida, and venues can open and operate for games, the governor said. Friday, we wanted to know how restaurants are doing under current restrictions. We spoke with two local restaurants that […]

Wildlife preserve protects animals during fire in Collier County

As the fire in Collier County grows Friday, employees at NGALA Wildlife Preserve in Golden Gate Estates are devising a plan to protect their animals. These are people who know what it’s like dealing with fire near the preserve. During the Collier County fires in 2017, owner Donavan Smith of NGALA was injured by the […]

Power crews prepare for hurricane season amid pandemic

Hurricane season is weeks away, and power crews are already preparing to make sure they can get your lights back on. But, because of the coronavirus, that process could look a little different. “The outages could be extended as we go into this hurricane season, which may be like none other that we have faced […]

Getting the value out of your gift card after a restaurant closes

With some businesses uncertain of their future, now is the time to pull out your wallet and go through your gift cards. But what can you do if the restaurant is already closed? We are sharing ways to try and hold on to some of the value. Brenda Edmonds loves a good deal. “I use […]

Neighborhoods in Collier County on high alert as wildfire continues to burn

Some neighborhoods in Southwest Florida are on high alert at risk of being impacted by the fire burning in Collier County. There is a high fire danger in the areas highlighted on the map below: We’ve watched fire trucks come back and forth along Beck Road. As of Friday evening, mandatory evacuations were lifted, but […]

A look at some of the damage in Golden Gate Estates

As far as the eye can see, there’s scorched earth in the Golden Gate Estates area, where more than 8,600 acres have burned. The Florida Forest Service on Friday gave WINK News an up-close look at the damage and at what firefighters are working against. WATCH the report above.

Neighbor tries to save Golden Gate Estates home from fire

Many homes in Golden Gate Estates were spared by the fire, but there were three that burned in an area that firefighters had a hard time getting to. One man tried to help out the fire at a neighbor’s house, but it was just too much. The greener pastures that attract people to the Estates are […]

Governor says gyms can reopen at 50% capacity Monday

During a public address Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced gyms can reopen at 50% capacity in Florida beginning Monday. We visited Anytime Fitness in Cape Coral, where owner Yvette Sparks is eager to welcome members back and ready to meet the governor’s conditions. “We are more than ready,” Sparks said. “I feel like some people […]