Conditions improve as crews battle hot spots of Picayune Strand brush fire

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. —

Firefighters in the Picayune Strand State Forest have contained 70% of a wildfire that burned over 1,700 acres, allowing residents to return home while crews continue working to prevent further spread.

Crews remain on the ground tackling hot spots, while helicopters drop buckets of water to prevent the fire from spreading further. The Florida Forest Service provided a firsthand look at the destruction, showing blackened ground, charred trees, and smoldering patches still burning.

Jesse Lavender of the Florida Forest Service described the ongoing efforts, saying, "The bulldozers will continue to improve our lines that we're presently driving on. Fire crews, fire departments, as well as all the resources that have brush trucks, will continue to put out the hotspots, which are basically smoldering areas, tree stumps, things like that, so that the fire doesn't reemerge."

While local crews have scaled back operations, air support was still needed. Two helicopters, one from the Collier County Sheriff's Office and another from the Florida Forest Service, spent the afternoon dumping water on hot spots.

Residents near the fire zone received some relief as evacuation orders were lifted, allowing families to return home and bring their horses back. Deputies are warning of heavy traffic near Collier and Beck Boulevard as people make their way back. Beck Boulevard remains partially blocked, with deputies checking IDs to ensure only residents have access to the area, keeping it clear for fire crews.

Barbara Mazza, a resident of the nearby Hacienda Lakes community, shared her experience, saying, "So we gathered whatever medicines we needed and paperwork, and we were ready to go. But thankfully, this guy's got a great job, so we didn't have to evacuate."

Another resident, Tony Karam, described the situation, saying, "We were asked for everybody to get their go bags ready and be ready to evacuate. It's not an evacuation situation yet, but we will be alerted if it is."

Fire crews remain on-site, working to ensure the fire does not spread further. For now, residents are returning home as containment efforts continue.

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