BIG PINE KEY BRUSH FIRE OUT; CAUSE OF FIRE REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION

BIG PINE KEY, FL – The Big Pine Key Brush Fire was completely contained and put out over the weekend, with the help of Mother Nature.

On Friday night, 1.7 inches of rain was recorded at the Big Pine Key Forestry site. The rain significantly reduced heat in the fire interior and enabled firefighters to 100 percent contain the fire.

Crews continued over the weekend to attack remaining hot-spots, focusing on smoldering stumps and heavy fuels.  They also conducted mitigation operations by reinforcing fire breaks and tearing down piles of combustible fuels to diminish future wildfire threats.

Minimal personnel and equipment from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the Florida Forest Service remain in the area to patrol the perimeter and be on call just in case any fire does reignite in the burn area or elsewhere. Monroe County Fire Rescue crews also are available.

The Big Pine Key brush fire began just before 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 22, in a wooded area. With strong winds and dry conditions, the fire quickly spread and burned 72 acres. Quick response limited the property destruction to 1 home and a detached garage, with about 30 homes saved in the burn area. Nobody was injured, and no loss of wildlife was reported.

Crews from more than 10 agencies, from Georgia to Key West, supported the fire suppression efforts.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Please note the conditions on Big Pine Key and the surrounding islands remain favorable for wildfire. Residents should remain vigilant and report any fire immediately to 911. Residents in wooded areas should also take protective measures around their homes to create a defensible space, ideally 100 feet overall. The initial 30 to 50 feet of space surrounding a structure should be clean of fuel stockpiles such as wood, trash and old vehicles.

This Big Pine Key Brush Fire Unified Command would like to thank the residents and local businesses for their patience and support during the operations.

They include: Winn Dixie Big Pine, Bucktooth Rooster Restaurant, Superior Sweets, Bob Hamilton, Linda Muncy, Mikki Gittings, Big Pine Key Library Branch staff, Marathon Mayor Michelle Coldiron, Brutus Seafood, Thomas Ryan, Brooke Dore, Tyler Dore and several other local business and citizens who donated as anonymous donors.

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