Greater Naples Fire District Assistant Fire Chief On Collier Brush Fires

Brush fires in Collier County continue to rage on. WGCU’s Andrea Perdomo spoke to Greater Naples Fire District's Assistant Fire Chief, Wayne Martin Thursday afternoon, for an update.

Below is a transcript of their conversation:

Perdomo:

Chief Martin, can you please tell me the current status of the fires?

Martin:

In Naples, in the Greater Naples Fire District, we have over 7,000 acres that have burned at this time and we still have the fire moving aggressively to the west. It's running on both sides of I-75, and moving west, I'll say towards Collier Boulevard.

Perdomo:

What challenges are first responders facing while battling these brush fires?

Martin:

The challenge that we're having obviously it's very, very dry. Water levels are down and then the winds over the last week have been excessive, sustained winds anywhere from 10 to 15 miles an hour. Now we have gusts and then it's been very, very variable. So, it's been moving rapidly in one direction and then in another direction.

Perdomo:

Are evacuation orders in place currently?

Martin:

Yes, we do have mandatory evacuation orders in place for areas both south of I-75 and north of I-75 in areas that are in front of the fire.

Perdomo:

As people are being recommended to evacuate or mandated to evacuate, where are they being directed to evacuate to?

Martin:

Well, there are two centers that are opened, two of our local parks. One is Max Hasse Park on Golden Gate Boulevard, and then Golden Gate Community Park is open on Golden Gate Parkway. So, the people that do evacuate can go there, or obviously to you know, a hotel or something of their choice.

Perdomo:

What are some things that people should be mindful of when evacuating or planning to evacuate?

Martin:

I guess the top things would be number one, their safety, you know, and get out early. Because if you wait till it's too late, you could get blocked in by a fire that could be impinging on a road, especially in some of our very, very rural areas versus a neighborhood. So they could get blocked in, so they want to get out as soon as possible.

Perdomo:

How has the pandemic complicated evacuation efforts?

Martin:

Well, there are certainly going to be some distancing rules in the evacuation points, the county parks, they’re not going to be able to put as many people in there, of course, so they'll have to have some social distancing. Even here, as the command group is working, we're practicing good social distancing, we're wearing masks in the Emergency Operation Center. We're taking temperatures and so we're practicing this so we all stay healthy.

Perdomo:

But what are some key items that people should take with them when they evacuated?

Martin:

Those things would be certainly prescription drugs, taking any insurance papers that they may need and hopefully never need, and important numbers in a change of clothes and toiletries, so at least they can be comfortable and some credit cards, cash.

Perdomo:

What websites or resources can people refer to if they're looking for guidance on what to do during this time?

Martin:

Our website is www.greaternaplesfire.org. Collier County Emergency Management's got a good website as well as the Collier County Sheriff's Office and social media is also being used.

Perdomo:

Is there anything else that you would like to share that maybe I didn't ask you? Maybe some safety precautions that people should take or anything like that?

Martin:

As far as safety, if people can have the opportunity to clear space around their home, even people that aren't in the way of the fire right now because this dry season is not over yet, the fire season isn't over. You know, if they can get 30 foot clear around their house. Make sure we have access up their driveways because sometimes our fire apparatus cannot get up the driveway, because they haven't trimmed it out. And that there's an address out in front of their home, because when we go into some of these rural areas were dispatched to an address and we want to make sure we can find that home to protect it.