Local agencies and groups are collecting donations for the victims of the recent brush fire.

The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District and the Facebook group called Pay It Forward Lehigh Acres have been collecting items for the families impacted by the 400-acre brush fire that raged this past weekend. They are assisting the families that have lost most, if not all, of their belongings.

Officials reported that the fire started on April 21 at about 5 p.m. at 19th Street West and Ann Avenue. The cause is believed to have been a discarded cigarette. By the time the fire was extinguished, it had destroyed four homes, a barn and several vehicles, as well as damaged several structures and vehicles.

“For us, the fire department is very much part of the community,” Lt. Lance Delgado said.

“We try to help out as much as we can and in any way possible,” he added. “This is a horrible event that happened in our community and it does affect us as firefighters, too.”

Items needed are toiletries, toothpaste and toothbrushes, hair brushes and combs, shampoo and conditioner, soap, shaving cream, razors, baby wipes, diapers, feminine products and such.

Money donations, as well as clothing and household items, are being accepted.

The district collected the following clothing sizes from the families:

– Family No. 1: Man, size 36, large; son, size 6; son, size 8; daughter, high-schooler (not sure of size)

– Family No. 2: Man, size 34 waist/30 length, XL shoe size 11; woman, size 3, XSM shoe size 11

– Family No. 3: Woman, size 16, XL shoe size 8 1/2; daughter, size 3, XSM shoe size 7

“We have a lot of people bringing furniture in and just normal day-to-day things,” Delgado said. “It helps the families transition into a new place easier.”

The Pay It Forward Lehigh Acres group is filling a storage unit up with donations.

“I think it’s our duty to take care of one another,” Tracy LaVallee, the group’s leader, said.

“I’ve only lived in the community for three years, but the people have been amazing,” she added. “I think it’s important to remember that it could be any one of us in this situation.”

According to LaVallee, the group has received clothes, household items and gift cards from the community. It is in need of new socks and underwear for the families, as well as laundry detergent.

“Words really can’t express how grateful we are for the community that has done so much,” LaVallee said. “There aren’t words to express how grateful we are for the people that have stepped up and helped the community.”

To donate through the Pay It Forward Lehigh Acres group, contact them on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/groups/pifla/; a member will meet the donor at the storage unit. For those interested in donating a gift card, the group can give the card directly to one of the families.

The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District is accepting cash donations for the victims at Station 102, at 10 Homestead Road S. Donations of clothing and household items can be dropped off at Kiwanis Club of Lehigh Acres’ Thrift Store, at 15 Homestead Road S.

For more information on what donation items are needed, visit the Facebook group online or the Lehigh fire district’s Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/OfficialLehighAcresFireRescue/.