Estero fire sparks concern over power line safety in Mariners Cove community

ESTERO, Fla. (WINK) -Residents of the Mariners Cove community in Estero are raising concerns about the safety of power lines after a fire erupted early Wednesday morning. The incident has left many questioning the state of utility infrastructure in their neighborhood.

The fire began just before sunrise at the Mariners Cove community. Homeowners reported loud popping sounds and sparks, which they initially thought were fireworks. However, it turned out to be a mobile home on fire. Fire crews from Estero Fire Rescue and San Carlos Park Fire responded to the scene after neighbors called 911 around 4:30 a.m. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the fire spread underneath the home, damaging the skirting and melting the siding.

"Everybody's, you know, thoughtful and careful about everyone else, and word kind of gets around," said Mike, a neighbor. "We just want to make sure everybody's okay and safe and there's no other danger to other people."

As neighbors checked on the homeowners, some expressed renewed concerns about the utility infrastructure in the community.

"They're not going to get better by themselves. Leaning poles don't straighten out deteriorated poles don't get better. It's only going to get worse, which can lead again, into the safety and the financial problems," Mike said.

Residents have reportedly raised concerns for years about leaning poles, broken and unused poles, and low-hanging wires.

"Hanging wires, old wires that just unsightly, some of them may or may not be hazardous. You know, we don't know. We don't know which are, which ones are live or which ones aren't," Mike added.

Florida Power and Light confirmed that it de-energized the home at the request of emergency officials and is investigating the incident. FPL has not yet confirmed what caused the line to fall but said it will look into residents’ concerns and review which poles and lines fall under its responsibility versus telecommunication providers.

WINK News contacted the Mariners Cove HOA to inquire whether residents have previously reported concerns about utility lines in the area.