THE BRUSH FIRE IN SOUTHERN CHARLOTTE COUNTY THAT HAS CONSUMED ALMOST 250 ACRES IS NOW 95% CONTAINED. FIRE CREWS SAY THEY HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON THE FIRE, BUT THEY ARE ON ALERT AS CONDITIONS CONTINUE TO CHANGE. THE WIND CONTINUES TO BE THE MAIN ISSUE WITH THE BLAZE, WHICH IS IN THE AREA OF US 41 AND OIL WELL ROAD. RESIDENTS OF THE SUN ‘N SHADE MOBILE HOME PARK, WHICH WAS EVACUATED TUESDAY WHEN THE FIRE BROKE OUT, ARE BEING ALLOWED TO RETURN, ALTHOUGH OFFICIALS HAVE NOT REOPENED THE FACILITY. DEE HAWKINS WITH CHARLOTTE FIRE & EMS SAID THEY UNDERSTAND RESIDENTS ARE ANXIOUS TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES, BUT THEY ALSO NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF THEY ARE ASKED TO LEAVE AGAIN, THEY DO SO IMMEDIATELY. THERE ARE STILL THREE AREAS THAT HAVE FIRE OFFICIALS CONCERNED, TWO OF WHICH ARE NEAR BUILDINGS ON OIL WELL ROAD. THE OTHER AREA IS JUST NORTH OF THE RV PARK. CHARLOTTE COUNTY DEPUTIES ASSISTED BY DROPPING 88 BAMBI BUCKETS OF WATER ON THE FIRE FROM THEIR HELICOPTER.
