Staff Reports
Nearly 7,000 homes are covered under mandatory evacuation orders in Southwest Florida as wildfires continue to rage just outside Fort Myers.
On Sunday, a St. Petersburg Fire Rescue crew was dispatched to Collier County to help battle the spread of fires in the area.
The Tampa Bay Reporter writes the St. Pete crew is part of a Bay Area Strike Team – composed of a district commander and five fire engines from the Tampa Bay area. Either three or four firefighters will staff each engine, and they are expected to work in Collier for 72 hours.
Accuweather reports the 30th Avenue fire is only 10 percent contained and has burned 5,500 acres so far. Fires destroyed nine homes.
