Cape Coral brush fire contained; weather experts warn of 'extremely' dry conditions
A brush fire in Cape Coral that grew to become nearly four times its original size has been contained.
Firefighters on Friday afternoon contained the 39-acre fire behind the German American Club, but remained on scene to overhaul the area.
This included using brush trucks to extinguish hot spots, hose down vegetation and using bulldozers to reinforce the fire line.
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Firefighters and police were among at least eight agencies dispatched to a Cape Coral brush fire Wednesday afternoon with a three-quarter containment by Thursday morning.
Cape Coral firefighters, along with Cape Coral police, the Florida Forest Service, Lehigh Acres Fire Rescue, Tice Fire Rescue, Fort Myers Shores Fire Department, North Fort Myers Fire Rescue and Bayshore Fire Rescue, were dispatched around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The then-8-acre brush fire originated near the intersection of El Dorado Boulevard and Ceitus Parkway, Cape Coral fire officials said.
Smoke from the fire was visible from most of north Cape Coral.
Officials said a lawn mower striking a piece of metal near the Lee County Electric Cooperative substation caused a spark that ignited and quickly spread through the dry brush.
Around 8 p.m. Thursday, the fire extended about 10 acres and was approximately 60% contained. Officials said no homes or businesses were threatened. Nearby roadways reopened by 8:40 p.m. Thursday.
Cape Coral firefighters and the Florida Forest Service worked through the night to battle the brush fire north of Pine Island Road, between Chiquita Boulevard and Burnt Store Road.
Cape Coral Fire said access is difficult and fuel load is high because of downed trees from Hurricane Ian.
"We knew this was gonna be a bad brush fire season based off of the number of trees that were damaged and broken from Hurricane Ian," Cape Coral Fire Chief Ryan Lamb said during a livestreamed press conference Thursday morning.
Florida Forest Service brought in additional bulldozers from neighboring counties to assist in cutting a protective line and allow brush trucks access to the fire.
Drought, cold weather factors
Firefighters worked to prevent the fire from flaring up in response to the cold front entering the area this weekend, which has brought windy, dry conditions, resulting in higher fire danger.
"Here in the winter it is typically our dry season," said Matthew Anderson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Ruskin. "During this time of the year across Florida, dry conditions can sometimes produce fuels for fires to develop, burn and propagate."
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, Lee and Collier counties are labeled "abnormally dry," meaning the fire risk is above average.
In January, Lee County had 1.33 inches compared to 2.43-inch average, Anderson said.
"We were drier than the average dry season, so that's another another reason you might see some of those fuels," Anderson said.
Anderson calls for residents to be cognizant.
"If you're burning anything with the weather conditions, don't throw out lit cigarettes and stuff on the side of the road, or matches, or anything like that," Anderson said. "So just be just be cognizant that this is our dryer time of the year."
Anderson said the dry season will remain over the next couple of months.
"These dry conditions will more than likely continue to stay with us, at least here for another month or so," Anderson said.
Anderson said drier conditions extend between November and April locally.
Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Twitter @TomasFRoBeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cape Coral Fire contains 39-acre fire; residents, businesses safe
