Mandatory Evacuations Ongoing As Fire In Collier County, Florida Continues To Grow

Six-thousand acres are burning in Collier County, forcing the evacuations of homes and closing the western end of I-75. County officials said Tuesday evening two homes were destroyed. “All of a sudden we started seeing the black smoke coming up and the sheriff’s department came in and told us to get whatever we need and to get out of there,” said one man who had to evacuate. “They told us just to leave the motor homes, get in the vehicles and just get out of the park. There was a parade of cars leaving the park.” Twenty-five miles of the highway have been shut down while crews fight the blaze.