NEW PHOTOS: See golf cart fleet engulfed in flames at Sanibel golf course

Mark H. Bickel, Fort Myers News-Press
·1 min read
8

The fleet of golf carts at The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club on Sanibel Island erupted in flames on Friday, Nov. 18.

This was the second time the golf carts have burned since Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida on Sept. 28. The fire caused thick, black smoke that could be seen rising into the sky from miles away.

What happened?: Golf carts on Sanibel Island engulfed in flames for second time since Hurricane Ian

Report on first fire: Golf carts burst into flames at Sanibel's The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club

The Sanibel Fire Rescue District team was called to contain all hazards from the burning golf carts. There was no structural damage reported on the site. SFRD said on its Facebook page that the fire is under investigation.

Mike Dopslaff, the PGA head professional at The Dunes, said he believes the cause was similar to the Oct. 16 fire involving the golf carts — a chemical reaction between the lithium batteries in the carts and the salt water residue caused by Ian's storm surge, which flooded the golf course.

Here are photos of the Sanibel First Rescue District at work on putting the fire out:

Black smoke rising from the northeast side of Sanibel could be seen for miles

Black smoke billows from the location at The Dunes Golf and Tennis Club where the fleet of golf carts are located. The carts were engulfed in flames on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022.
Black smoke billows from the location at The Dunes Golf and Tennis Club where the fleet of golf carts are located. The carts were engulfed in flames on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022.

Fire rages behind piles of debris caused by Hurricane Ian

Debris from Hurricane Ian in the foreground as a fire rages at the golf course at Sanibel's The Dunes Golf and Tennis Club on Friday, Nov. 18, 2002. Golf carts at the club caught on fire.
Debris from Hurricane Ian in the foreground as a fire rages at the golf course at Sanibel's The Dunes Golf and Tennis Club on Friday, Nov. 18, 2002. Golf carts at the club caught on fire.

Fire fighters work on extinguishing the flames that engulfed the golf carts

Firemen from the Sanibel Fire Rescue District spray water on what's left of the golf carts that caught on fire on Nov. 18, 2022 at The Dunes Golf and Tennis Club on Sanibel Island.
Firemen from the Sanibel Fire Rescue District spray water on what's left of the golf carts that caught on fire on Nov. 18, 2022 at The Dunes Golf and Tennis Club on Sanibel Island.

SFRD said the fire is under investigation

A Sanibel Fire Rescue District fireman positions a hose in the parking lot at The Dunes Golf and Tennis Club on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. A fire erupted in the club's fleet of golf carts, causing thick, black smoke that could be seen miles away.
A Sanibel Fire Rescue District fireman positions a hose in the parking lot at The Dunes Golf and Tennis Club on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. A fire erupted in the club's fleet of golf carts, causing thick, black smoke that could be seen miles away.

Other golf courses in SWFL were impacted by Hurricane Ian

A total of 71 out of the 72 golf carts at Sanibel Island's The Dunes Golf and Tennis club have been impacted by two separate fires that are believed to have been caused by a chemical reaction between the lithium batteries and salt water residue from Hurricane Ian's storm surge.
A total of 71 out of the 72 golf carts at Sanibel Island's The Dunes Golf and Tennis club have been impacted by two separate fires that are believed to have been caused by a chemical reaction between the lithium batteries and salt water residue from Hurricane Ian's storm surge.

The Dunes is an 18-hole par-70 golf course

A wall of smoke can be seen in front of two firefighters from the Sanibel Fire Rescue District on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. The smoke was caused by a fire that engulfed the golf carts at the club.
A wall of smoke can be seen in front of two firefighters from the Sanibel Fire Rescue District on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. The smoke was caused by a fire that engulfed the golf carts at the club.

Heavy equipment was on the scene

A Sanibel Fire Rescue District ladder truck was deployed to help extinguish a fire at The Dunes Golf and Tennis Club on Sanibel Island on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. The golf carts at the club erupted into flames.
A Sanibel Fire Rescue District ladder truck was deployed to help extinguish a fire at The Dunes Golf and Tennis Club on Sanibel Island on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. The golf carts at the club erupted into flames.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Sanibel Island fire caused by golf carts bursting into flames