Florida

Wildfires shut down 21 miles of Alligator Alley as SW Florida neighborhoods evacuated

A 21-mile stretch of Interstate 75’s Alligator Alley area has been shut down as firefighters try to deal with a 4,000-acare wildfire.

Florida Forest Service Caloosahatchee saidThursday morning that, despite firefighters efforts, there was 0 percent containment on the fire.

I-75 is blocked from mile marker 80 to mile marker 101. Collier County Sheriff’s Office announced evacuations of structures in heavily wooded areas north of I-75, west of Everglades Boulevard, east of Garland Boulevard as well as the Panther Walk and Club Naples RV Resorts.

North Collier Fire Rescue and other agencies attempt to deal with the wildfires burning through Collier County
North Collier Fire Rescue and other agencies attempt to deal with the wildfires burning through Collier County North Collier Fire Rescue via Twitter
Thursday night view of wildfires burning through Collier County
Thursday night view of wildfires burning through Collier County North Collier Fire Rescue via Twitter

This story was originally published May 14, 2020 at 10:44 AM.

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David J. Neal
Miami Herald
305-376-3559
Since 1989, David J. Neal’s domain at the Miami Herald has expanded to include writing about Panthers (NHL and FIU), Dolphins, old school animation, food safety, fraud, naughty lawyers, bad doctors and all manner of breaking news. He drinks coladas whole. He does not work Indianapolis 500 Race Day.
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