More than one dozen different fire departments sent crews to help battle a brush fire as flames got dangerously close to homes.
Residents in Rotunda West called 911 Wednesday around 3 p.m. when they saw flames near their houses. More than 20 Charlotte County deputies went door to door evacuating families from five streets.
"People were very receptive to evacuating because they had 30-foot flames behind their houses," said Charlotte County Spokeswoman Dee Hawkins-Garland.
Resident Yong Rugenstein said she tried to stomp out some small flames near her sidewalk before a deputy told her she had to go.
"He said get out of here, hurry up. I said, oh my gosh, I'm scared. I don't know what to do," explained Rugenstein.
Dozens of firefighters from Naples to Sarasota battled the blaze from the ground. An air crew also used a helicopter to dump buckets of water from the sky.
"It's a relatively, newly developed area, lot of new houses, but they are sporadically spaced in areas with heavy brush areas, thus the challenge," said Hawkins-Garland.
Wednesday's weather didn't help either.
"We had anywhere from 10 to 30 mile an hour wind gusts, that creates a huge challenge with the dry (weather). It's cold. It spreads quick," said Hawkins-Garland.
About 60 acres of brush burned around homes in Rotuna West before residents were allowed to return.
Hawkins-Garland said another major brush fire burned Wednesday in a rural part of south Charlotte County. She said that fire consumed 500-acres and three structures. No one was injured in either fire.
Thursday, May 23 2013 5:37 PM EDT2013-05-23 21:37:03 GMT
St. Petersburg Police Officers have arrested three people for a home invasion and beating that left a 63-year-old woman in critical condition on Wednesday morning.
St. Petersburg Police Officers have arrested three people for a home invasion and beating that left a 63-year-old woman in critical condition on Wednesday morning.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:53 PM EDT2013-05-21 21:53:22 GMT
The state admits it dropped the ball, but 51 year old Wes Diebold lost his license over a 2 dollar mistake.
Looking for a job is tough enough these days but how much tougher does having a suspended driver's license make things? 51 year old Wes Diebold doesn't know for sure if his suspended license was a roadblock.
Looking for a job is tough enough these days but how much tougher does having a suspended driver's license make things? 51 year old Wes Diebold doesn't know for sure if his suspended license was a roadblock.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:30 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:30:01 GMT
The Obridge Academy is a virtual school with a virtual Florida headquarters and a virtual track record of performance. But under new legislation awaiting the signature of Governor Rick Scott it could
The Obridge Academy is a virtual school with a virtual Florida headquarters and a virtual track record of performance.
Monday, May 20 2013 5:56 PM EDT2013-05-20 21:56:22 GMT
The weather is getting warm in the bay area and pest control experts say it's bringing out dry wood termites. "The phones are ringing off the hook now because the termites are swarming," said exterminator
The weather is getting warm in the bay area and pest control experts say it's bringing out dry wood termites. "The phones are ringing off the hook now because the termites are swarming," said exterminator
Friday, May 17 2013 7:36 AM EDT2013-05-17 11:36:31 GMT
As the news of Angelina Jolie brings awareness to the fight against breast cancer there is a major medical breakthrough thanks to a nationwide study with the largest number of participants at USF.
As the news of Angelina Jolie brings awareness to the fight against breast cancer there is a major medical breakthrough thanks to a nationwide study with the largest number of participants at USF.
Friday, May 17 2013 5:00 AM EDT2013-05-17 09:00:46 GMT
Teacher supplies can be very expensive. Ask any teacher they will tell you it's true. A couple of local educators are doing their best to help cut the cost for the tools teachers use in the classroom. Adrianne
Teacher supplies can be very expensive. Ask any teacher they will tell you it's true. A couple of local educators are doing their best to help cut the cost for the tools teachers use in the classroom. Adrianne
Friday, May 17 2013 4:58 PM EDT2013-05-17 20:58:08 GMT
The 'Great May Giveaway' is underway. Now through May 24, you have a chance to win tablets, tickets and more! All this week we're giving away an Apple iPad mini , every weekday morning.
The 'Great May Giveaway' is underway. Now through May 24, you have a chance to win tablets, tickets and more! All this week we're giving away an Apple iPad mini , every weekday morning.
Thursday, May 23 2013 12:29 PM EDT2013-05-23 16:29:23 GMT
Kmart has launched the latest in what appears to be an edgy string of commercials. In April, one of its commercial went viral for a play on words. Explaining the ease of shipping a product to a customer
Kmart has launched the latest in what appears to be an edgy string of commercials. In April, one of its commercial went viral for a play on words. Explaining the ease of shipping a product to a customer
Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:53 PM EDT2013-05-21 21:53:22 GMT
The state admits it dropped the ball, but 51 year old Wes Diebold lost his license over a 2 dollar mistake.
Looking for a job is tough enough these days but how much tougher does having a suspended driver's license make things? 51 year old Wes Diebold doesn't know for sure if his suspended license was a roadblock.
Looking for a job is tough enough these days but how much tougher does having a suspended driver's license make things? 51 year old Wes Diebold doesn't know for sure if his suspended license was a roadblock.
Monday, May 20 2013 7:17 PM EDT2013-05-20 23:17:06 GMT
Sleep experts estimate one in three people will suffer from insomnia at some point in their life. For those suffering from insomnia, it turns out, there's an app for that.
Sleep experts estimate one in three people will suffer from insomnia at some point in their life. For those suffering from insomnia, it turns out, there's an app for that.
Image courtesy NBC 2
