Lee County brush fire burns 22 acres near Alico Road, 80% contained

LEE COUNTY A brush fire broke out in Lee County this afternoon, sending large plumes of smoke into the air near a busy road.

The fire started around 1:30 p.m. in a wooded area just north of Esplanade Lake Club Boulevard and west of Alico Road.

The San Carlos Park Fire District says crews have been battling the blaze for hours with help from the Florida Forest Service and a south strike team of brush trucks.

Firefighters faced challenges early on because the fire was deep inside the woods, making it hard to reach.

The fire is burning about 22 acres and is 80% contained.

Alexis McLellan, Public Information Officer for the San Carlos Park Fire District, said visibility along Alico Road is a concern.

"The only issue we're currently having is the amount of wind we're having and this heavy smoke. We're going to be putting out some signs on Alico Road to let people know that visibility is pretty low so you would hope that people could, you know, slow their speeds wherever they're traveling," McLellan said.

Officials say a dry June and gusty winds created the conditions that fed the fire.

WINK News reached out to Southwest Florida International Airport to find out if the smoke was affecting pilots or flights. The airport confirmed the fire is not impacting operations.