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 now with 50% containment.

Crews continue to work to ensure the fire doesn’t get any bigger than it already has. They are in the field making sure no hot spots go unnoticed.

“Really going to focus a lot on mop up, a lot of water, a lot of turning stumps over,” Allen said.

Allen says part of making sure the fire stays where it involves adding more containment lines and making the ones already in place bigger and stronger.

“They are really putting in, kind of like highways on these containment lines, making them really wide,” Allen said.

FFS says more fire activity could be seen in the community in the coming days, and crews are ready to respond if they need to.

“Any new hot spots or any new fire starts, we do have more personnel, more resources that came in to the area,” Allen said. “And we will be responding to those starts today.”

Allen and FFS said more motorists are driving down streets near the fire scenes to get glimpse at the damage the fire has caused. But the agency says that makes it harder for crews to work and asks drivers to avoid the area unless they must.

There are no current evacuation orders in place due to the fire.

Air units continue to monitor the fire from above. The FFS warns drone pilots to avoid entering the fire scenes. Launching personal drones can interfere with the response.

According to FFS, burn bans remain in place for Collier, Lee, Hendry, Glades and DeSoto counties.

FFS and Greater Naples Fire Rescue District shared a recorded video on Facebook about the fire and what containment means. WATCH below of on Facebook.

#36thAveSEFire Morning Update. Complete update attached. @FLForestService @CollierSheriff @CollierEM @NCFRPio @MarcoIslandFire @GN_Fire pic.twitter.com/GHsr1K2OB9

— FFS Caloosahatchee (@FFS_cafc) May 17, 2020

Iona McGregor Fire District was among crews from other fire departments assisting in the response on Saturday.