Kenneth Bennett

Lehigh Acres Fire and Rescue District Fire Marshal Kenneth Bennett recently said the fire that occurred on May 28 off of Daniels Parkway has been termed suspicious and the Lee County Arson Task Force have three investigators on the case.

They were at the scene and were able to identify the area of origin of the fire, but have not completed the investigation.

According to Bennett, the Department of Forestry said the fire covered about 620 acres while early media reports listed different acreage numbers, mostly smaller.

Bennett said the fire was the largest of a couple other brush fires in a short time period and all have been termed suspicious.

“We had at least two or three other brush fires in that geographical area within the last few weeks,” Bennett said.

He is also the assistant chief of administration at the Lehigh Fire District, but also wears the hat of fire marshal.

He said that Lehigh units responded to the brush fire at the very south end of Shawnee Road, located south of SR82 and one-quarter mile east of Daniels Parkway.

Prior to arrival, he said Lehigh fire crews reported seeing a large column of smoke and fire and requested additional Lehigh units to respond

Upon arrival, the North Lee County Strike Team of brush trucks was requested to respond with about 20 to 30 acres involved.

The fire was stopped at the Southwest Florida International Airport.

Bennett said that as firefighters wrapped up initial operations on May 28 at about 11 p.m. to midnight, there were more than 140 firefighters and other support staff from almost all Lee County fire departments and public safety agencies, as well as a strike team of brush trucks from Collier County. Bennett said the American Red Cross was on the scene to help with hydration and feeding the large contingent of firefighters.

The acres affected had a fire line around the fire prior to suspending night time operations, he said.

No homers or people were threatened by the large fire; however, one firefighter from Lehigh was injured fighting the blaze and was transported to Lehigh Regional Medical Center where he was treated and released.

Bennett said fire operations resumed the next morning at around 8 a.m. with about 20 fire units and other support staff and Forestry units returned to the scene to continue overhaul operations.

“Friday and Saturday were spent cleaning up the fire lines and watching for flare-ups,” he said.

He reported that the fire started in a piece of agricultural property off Shawnee Rd., and quickly ran to the end of the airport runway.

“The rapid response from the various agencies in Lee County kept the fire away from the old airport terminal and nearby structures of Southwest Regional Airport,” Bennett said.

“It’s definite suspicious as were the other smaller fires a few weeks before. Those who caused the fire, if indeed, it was arson, will be prosecuted and charged with arson,” he said.

The day was clear and there were no records of lightning strikes.