Bonita Springs fire grows to 200 acres, helicopters aid in containment

BONITA SPRINGS - A fast-moving brush fire in Bonita Springs has grown to 200 acres, sending smoke into nearby neighborhoods and prompting a large response from ground and air crews.

Fire officials say dry conditions and recent freezes are fueling dangerous fire conditions across Southwest Florida.

The Caloosahatchee Forestry Center reported this fire is just one of 37 that have burned locally since Monday morning.

Resident Al Giallorenzi shared, "We said, 'Geez, there's a fire right here.'" Helicopters circled overhead, dropping thousands of gallons of water as firefighters worked to contain the blaze in Collier County.

The fire rapidly spread from about 55 acres to 200 acres, fueled by dry vegetation and recent freezing temperatures. Jesse Lavender, a mitigation specialist with the Florida Forest Service, said, "The freezes we've been having is producing more fuel for the fires to consume."

Six ground units, bulldozers, brush trucks and multiple helicopters worked together to plow containment lines and target hot spots from above. Lavender explained, "We plow a circle around the fire and then dump water in the hot spots."

For nearby residents, the fire was impossible to ignore. Giallorenzi described, "All of a sudden, Ontario was about 10:30 maybe a little earlier, tremendous amount of smoke."

Neighbors watched as helicopters repeatedly dipped into nearby water sources to slow the flames. Resident Carla Bogart said, "It was fascinating to watch, and I couldn't believe it was actually happening at the end of our block, so close, and I it was just something that you couldn't take your eyes off and watching the choppers and the guys in the chopper."

Thankfully, no homes were threatened. Officials say the brush fire is 95% contained and the cause is under investigation. They remind residents to avoid outdoor burning and report any signs of smoke immediately as dry conditions continue across Southwest Florida.