A close friend has his winter home in Naples.

News stories said fires were burning all over the state, including near Naples, so I tried to call him with no luck. Trading e-mails, it turns out there's one fire within 2 miles of his home that so-far has burned 5,200 acres and several homes. He said 6,000 residents are under mandatory evacuation orders, but I guess he's not covered by that as of now.

Since the fires stretch pretty-much straight north from his location, I'm not sure how he'd get out if he had to, though no-doubt he'll find a way. He doesn't have a boat there, so no water escape.

I've known this guy for nearly 50 years, was Best Man at his wedding and he was Best Man at mine, so it really sucks to be over a thousand miles away and unable to help.

I hope the Florida contingent of SigForum is holding out. Looks like a lot of fires.

Yea sucks. Sorry to hear anyone going through this type of thing. Got to be the most helpless feeling.

Wish I could send him some of our rain... over 5 inches in the last 24 hrs. Looks like at least some chance they will get some.

I live north of your friend, there are several fires that have destroyed home throughout the area, over the past few days. Prayers for your friend and all those involved; we have rain here for the first time in a LONG time, hopefully it is helping.

I'm in Naples. My place is not in the danger zone, but I can smell the fires every morning when I walk the dogs. I also get the occasional bit of ash in my yard. I have several friends who are under voluntary evacuations - so it's definitely no joke.

Had some good rain yesterday and looks like we'll get some more today. We're heading into rainy season where it will soon be raining every day - so now it's a race against time.

Looks like some good rain for you guys down there. We could use some of that in Central FL. Hope everybody is safe.

It's coming down in the bucket loads here along the SE coast!

quote:

Originally posted by just1tym:
It's coming down in the bucket loads here along the SE coast!

Yup pouring in Pompano Beach. It's been a few months since we got any decent rain. Unfortunately it cancelled my boat trip with 7 hotties to Boca Bash today.

This past Tuesday I was visiting customers in the Space Coast area.

The 528 Toll Road (BeeLine, or BeachLine, or whatever new name they've picked for it this week) was closed to traffic, west of Titusville, due to smoke.

Had to take a bunch of detours.

My friend reports that he, his wife, and their home are all OK as of this morning, no word since then. Some pics he sent weren't as bad as I feared they would be, I'm pleased to add. He hasn't yet responded to another e-mail I sent about 1pm eastern time.

I feel your pain OP. One of my best friends has his main home in Naples. He has another home here and he and his wife are here now. He was telling us about the fires last night when we had a get together at his house here. He does not seem too worried. He also has his personal airplane there too. I would think if he was really worried, he would at least return and fly his plane here to keep it safe.