Fire crews monitoring area after 120-acre fire burns in Cape Coral

A brush 120-acre brush fire in Cape Coral threatened homes. And while it’s contained now, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s controlled. Homeowners there aren’t taking any chances or letting their guard down.

Right now, fire investigators believe that a downed powerline started a brush fire in Cape Coral on Sunday. But crews continue to monitor the fire in case of hot spots that flare back into a fire.

The brush fire and the smoke that goes with it may be out, but that doesn’t mean it’s time for fire crews to leave.

Ryan Mason is a Florida Forest Service area supervisor. “100% contained does not mean 100% controlled. Whenever we call a fire controlled,” said Mason. “That means that it’s dead out, and we can walk away from it with the confidence that it’ll stay within containment lines.”

This fire is 100% contained, meaning the active spread has stopped, but there are still hot spots. While this sounds elementary, not all fires are created equal.

For example, don’t compare Florida brush fires with California wildfires. Winds there can fuel flames for days or even weeks.

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