UPDATE Jan. 26:
Deputies have charged a 49-year-old man in connection to the brush fires.
The small fires sparked at the old Royal Palm Village lot off Old Gladiolus Drive on Friday.
According to the Lee County Sheriff's Office, the suspect, Brian Fry, ran off when deputies got there.
Sheriff Carmine Marceno said a K9 tracked the man to a Speedway on U.S. 41. They said Fry was inside, looking at gas cans. They also said he had a lighter in his pocket.
While the fire was put out quickly, Marceno said it could've been worse.
"We have an intentional fire to a field. It may seem small, but if it's a windy day ,that could spread very quickly and really cause some catastrophic damage and it could also take lives, so we take it very seriously," he said.
Fry was arrested and charged with malicious land burning.
He has been arrested 18 times in Lee County for various charges including for drugs and battery.
ORIGINAL STORY:
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after several small brush fires were set in a wooded area behind a Lowe’s on Old Gladiolus Drive.
South Trail Fire Protection And Rescue Service District said they responded around 1pm, to a brush fire within the community formerly known as Royal Palm Village.
South Trail said the community was severely damaged by Hurricane Ian and all manufactured homes have since been removed.
South Trail said after investigation the brush fires were determined to be suspicious in nature.
Firefighters saw a person of interest and told Lee County Sheriff's Offfice, who then apprehended an adult male.
LCSO said they suspect multiple fires had been intentionally set in the woods behind the stores across from Lakes Park.
LCSO said a person of interest was taken into custody at a nearby Speedway.
Deputies have not released the person’s identity and formal charges have not been filed yet.
The investigation is ongoing.
