COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — Firefighters are seeing great progress with containing the brush fire near Golden Gate Estates. Today Florida Forest Service deemed this fire 50% contained. The flames have scorched 8,663 acres. The Florida Forest Service says today's primary focus was improving containment lines.
“Actually putting in new containment lines, really getting closer to the homes, to really make that separation between the vegetation and the homes” said Julie Allen with the Florida Forest Service.
Crews have been putting dozer plow units throughout the wooded areas where the fire burned, placing lines around the perimeter of the fire.
“It’s the amount that we’ve been able to put lines around the fire. So like right now, it’s 50 % contained we’ve got lines 50 % around the 8,663 acres” said Allen.
The containment lines Allen says, give firefighters easier access to reach embedded hotspots.
“It really gives an opportunity in the event that we need to get brush trucks in there, there is a bit of a roadway for them to do that, to conduct mop-up operations” said Allen.
Creating new containment lines throughout the 8,663 acres where the fire burned is vital, until there are containment lines around the entire perimeter.
“We will continue to work that fire until there is no smoke, not one stump is smoking, not a hint of smoke. We’ll still continue to work that until we are satisfied, that the fire is completely out” said Allen.
Moving forward Allen says their main goal is to completely put out the flames.
“We’re really going to take out time, about being methodical about putting in good constructed containment lines, and those really are for the protection of the community” said Allen.