Evacuation orders have been lifted after a wildfire burned 177.41 acres near Leisure Lakes in Highlands County, officials said Wednesday. The Florida Forest Service reported the fire is 100% contained. Two outbuildings and one vehicle were damaged in the blaze.
David Grubich, public information officer for Florida Forest Service, said eight bulldozers, three brush trucks and three supervisors responded to the fire. A helicopter dropped water while a fixed-wing aircraft controlled airspace around the fire. “We have two blades wide all the way around this thing at the moment. That’s why we’re comfortable in saying it’s 100% contained,” Grubich said.
The fire prompted evacuation orders for the area near Leisure Lakes. Roads were blocked as smoke billowed in the distance. Grubich emphasized that a burn ban remains in effect in Highlands County. He said drought conditions and frost kill from a recent cold front have created dangerous fire conditions.
