A brush fire in northeast Lehigh Acres is now 100% contained.
The fire covered approximately 12 acres and burned in the area of East 11th Street and Hines Avenue near the Hendry County line, According to Victor Hill, Florida Forest Service Wildfire Mitigation Specialist for the Caloosahatchee Forestry Center
Streets in the area are being blocked off for emergency workers to make their way to the flames.
Crews remain on scene to battle flare-ups.
According to Lt. Ken Bennett with the Lehigh Acres Fire Department, the fire was caused by an illegal burn. During the call three homes were in danger for some time.
The man responsible may be fined to compensate for money spent by the forestry center to put out the fire – a fine that could rack up to thousands of dollars, Hill said.
An acre of land off Washington Avenue caught fire in the afternoon, but has since been put out. The fire was suspicious, and may fit the pattern of several other small, suspicious fires started in Lehigh Acres recently, said Hill
The Arson hotline number is 1-800-342- 5869