Brush fire burns estimated 300 acres in Collier County

OCHOPEE, Fla. A large brush fire ignited Thursday in Big Cypress National Preserve two miles north of Interstate 75 and west of the L-28 Canal Road, the National Park Service said.

The blaze is approximately 300 acres and is expected to grow over the next several days.

Aviation and ground resources assessed area trails Friday for potential containment. It’s currently unclear whether any structures are in danger.

The source of the fire is unknown and the fire is not a result of prescribed fire activity, officials said.

“Inter-agency teams have directed fire resources to set up containment lines, protect private property, and appropriately manage the fire,” said Big Cypress Superintendent Tamara Whittington. “Our primary goal is to reduce the spread to critical resource areas and private structures in the area.”

The park service is referring to it as the Cowbell Fire.

Another blaze, called the Parliament Fire, began Mar. 18 in a remote area of the preserve north of Burns Lake Campground. It spanned an estimated 26,471 acres and caused multiple closures of U.S. 41. The fire was 75 percent contained as of Sunday night, according to the National Park Service.

No further information is immediately available.