Ranchers head back after Picayune Strand fire threatens properties

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. —

Evacuations were lifted yesterday for residents, allowing them to return home and bring their horses back after a wildfire threatened the area.

At Everglades Ranch, trailers rolled in throughout the day, bringing home 25 horses that had been evacuated on Monday afternoon. Owner Lynn Switzer said the evacuation effort came together quickly.

"Everybody else just starts communicating with everybody else. And we look for horse trailers, trucks, places for them to go, and then people just start rolling in," Switzer said.

Within two hours, all the horses were safely evacuated.

"We ended up having all kinds of problems with, but eventually the sheriffs and the fire guys helped us get those horses loaded. And, we were all off and safe," Switzer said.

Now, the horses are returning home, with arrivals spread out to avoid congestion and keep roads clear for first responders. The ranch is also being used as a staging area due to its easy access to the Picayune Strand State Forest south of Interstate 75.

Switzer, who lives on the property, expressed gratitude that her home was spared.

"They're going to stop the fire from burning my place down. And that's what they did," she said.

This marks the fourth wildfire Switzer has experienced at the ranch since the early 2000s.

Just down the road at Benchmark Equestrian, more than 30 horses have also returned home. Owner Steve DiCarlo said the proximity of scorched land to his property remains a concern.

"It's still going back there. So it's always risky to come back. But at some point, you just have to bring them back and hope for the best. You know, it's hard to deal with them all scattered out," DiCarlo said.

DiCarlo brought his horses back yesterday, shortly after the evacuation order was lifted.

"They were a little worried about the amount of traffic coming through and wanted us to just be respectful, which of course we are, because we're thankful that they took care of us," he said.

Firefighters have been monitoring hotspots near DiCarlo's property throughout the day to ensure the fire does not reignite.

The wildfire has burned more than 1,700 acres and is 70% contained.

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