Deer Prairie brush fire '90% contained'

NORTH PORT — Smoke from a brush fire in Deer Prairie Preserve was visible to many Wednesday afternoon and into the evening.

State fire crews were on the scene of the fire that eventually burned dozens of acres, according to Patrick Mahoney, Florida Forest Service wildfire mitigation specialist.

By Thursday, the fire was mostly contained at 50 acres, and crews were "mopping up" and looking for any hot spots, Mahoney said.

The area where the large brush fire took place is still closed off due to those "hot spots" and the firefighters being present, according to Mahoney.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Dry conditions explain recent fires, according to Mahoney.

Because of that, Sarasota County officials initiated a recreational fire ban went into effect Sunday, “due to local drought conditions and an increased chance of fire hazards,” according to a recent news release.

Officials, including Mahoney, recently shared advice for wildfire season.