NAPLES, Fla. -- The Collier County 100 Club held their fourth annual fundraiser honoring first responders, Sunday afternoon, at Jimmy P's Butcher Shop & Deli.
The organization takes care of families of first responders in times of need. This comes after the Florida Forest Service announced the Picayune Strand State Forest Fire, which burned nearly 7,500 acres, is now 100% contained. The fire was burning since early March.
Naples fire Battalion Chief Pete DiMaria described some of the challenges faced fighting the blaze. He called it an all-hands-on-deck effort."It's mentally and physically challenging because they're working around the clock there to contain the fire, and we're taking guys that are in one environment, mainly structural fire fighters, and then we're sending them out to a wild fire," he said. "We're service oriented, so we do it because we love what we do. But when people say thank you, it sure makes a difference."
