SOUTHWEST FLORIDA --- Multiple wildfires are burning across Southwest Florida Thursday. Fire crews are battling at least seven working fires in Lee, Hendry and Collier Counties.
The two biggest fires are both in Collier. The West Boundary Fire, in the eastern part of the county, was at about 800 acres Thursday afternoon. The Flag Pond Fire, in the Picayune Strand State Forest, was estimated at 1,000 acres.
Voluntary evacuations are effect for homes on Snake Road and Lee WIlliams Road in Picayune Strand. Fire trucks are standing by on those properties, ready to defend the homes if threatened by the Flag Pond Fire.
Florida Forest Service crews from the Jacksonville area have come down to assist local firefighters.
"So we can quickly contain these fires, so they don't have any impact to residents or structures," said Samantha Quinn, a spokeswoman for the Florida Forest Service.
She said with Thursday high winds, smoke could be a problem for anyone near the fires.
Quinn said residents living in wooded areas should always be prepared to evacuate for wildfires, keeping important documents, medications and other essential items ready to grab in case the worst happens.
#FlagPondFire FAS Gregory, "Due to extreme fire behavior voluntary evacuations requested for everyone on Snake Rd and Lee Williams Rd. Fire Dept and @FFS_cafc focusing on structure protection and life safety." pic.twitter.com/c77nYjGope
— Caloosahatchee FC (@FFS_cafc) March 22, 2018
