Crews contain four small brush fires near Interstate 75 in North Naples
Firefighters contained four small, fast-moving brush fires that threatened structures and sent smoke sweeping over Interstate 75 in North Naples on Monday evening.
The first brush fire started about 5:30 p.m. on the grounds of Summer Lakes Apartments in the 5500th block of Jonquil Lane, just west of the interstate highway, said Michelle Batten, a spokeswoman for the Collier County Sheriff's Office.
The blaze started on the west side of the apartment complex, spotted and jumped over to the east side of the complex, starting a second small brush fire, said James Cunningham, chief of the North Collier Fire Rescue District.
Calls of a third brush fire, this time on the east side of I-75 near Malibu Lakes Apartments, came in to the Sheriff's Office dispatch about 6:10 p.m., Batten said.
The brush fire that sparked at Summer Lakes jumped the interstate and started the fire in a wooded area between the northbound lanes of I-75 and Malibu Lakes apartment buildings.
A brush truck trying to extinguish the fire bordering Malibu Lakes was consumed by flames.
Cunningham had ordered the two crew members inside to abandon the truck. They both got out safely and were evaluated by EMS, and one was taken to a hospital for observation. The truck, valued at about $200,000, was charred and was a total loss.
About 7 p.m., a fourth brush fire started on the east side of Malibu Lakes. Some crew members working on the fire close to the interstate highway ran to the other side of the complex to extinguish the last fire.
One building in the Malibu Lakes complex was evacuated Monday afternoon. Deputies blocked the entrance to the community so crews could work inside.
Residents were all allowed to return to their homes by about 8 p.m., but one I-75 lane for northbound traffic remained closed at that time. North Collier and Division of Forestry crews are expected to stay at the scene for a few more hours to check for hot spots and flare-ups.
The two fires in the Summer Lakes community were less than a quarter of an acre each, and the one near Malibu Lakes was "a couple of acres," the chief said.
Fire crews have faced challenges this year with small brush fires that have moved quickly.
"The fire spotted three different times," Cunningham said. "This year, we're seeing rapid intensification of small small fires and changing fire behaviors. It's dangerous work for crews."
Cunningham said the cause of the fire that began in the Summer Lakes community wasn't known. But several fires have been reported in the community in the past few years, so officials will investigate that, too.
Fire crews are expecting to have a busy fire season because of dry weather and winds.
"Embers flying caused the new fires," Cunningham said. "You're looking at fires jumping just 1,000 feet away and going over the interstate. It's been decades since we've seen this kind of fire activity."
More on recent brush fires:
Juvenile questioned about Golden Gate brush fire
114-acre brush fire threatened homes in south Lee but now fully contained, officials say
Crews battle 50-acre brush fire west of U.S. 41 in San Carlos Park