A brush fire destroyed 200 outbuildings in southeastern Polk County near River Ranch and Canopy Oaks, according to the Florida Forestry Service in Lakeland’s Twitter feed.
As of Wednesday morning, the fire was 658 acres and 80% contained, the FFS said. “Estimated 200 outbuildings destroyed.”
“Personnel are on scene improving fire lines,” the agency said. “River Ranch is closed for safety reasons.”
In earlier posts after 6 p.m. Tuesday, the FFS said the fire had grown to about 500 acres with 50% containment. Firefighters had brought in 10 bulldozers from the Forest Service’s Lakeland, Orlando and Okeechobee districts to work the fire.
The agency first reported the fire on Twitter at 4:59 p.m. Tuesday, saying the fire had already destroyed several camps and was at 125 acres. Polk County Fire Rescue was also on scene assisting with the blaze. The FFS reported no injuries as of Wednesday morning in its most recent update, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation