By JOE SEELIG

AVON PARK — The Big Pine Fire in southern Polk County was about 80 percent contained, according to Florida Division of Forestry Public Information Officer Chris Kintner said Tuesday afternoon.

The fire began about 2 p.m. Sunday in Polk in the River Ranch area.
While the fire did slightly encroach on Avon Park Bombing Range property over night, it is a long way off from crossing into Highlands County, she said.
A portion of the bombing range is located in Polk.

The fire thus far has consumed about 3,000 acres. The fire was described as having burned an area four miles long by one mile wide.
“We’re estimating about 350 hunting camps were destroyed but no other structures were damaged,” Kintner said.
Some recreational vehicles were also destroyed, Kintner said.

Tim Elder is forest area supervisor Okeechobee District with the Florida Division of Forestry, which includes Highlands County.
Elder said Monday the fire is threatening the Blue Jordan subdivision in Polk County and voluntary evacuations have been ongoing.
Kintner said one concern is if the fire gets into the muck in the Blue Jordan swamp. Muck fires are difficult and expensive to put out, she said.
Parts of County Road 630 was closed to traffic to prevent sightseers from getting in the way of firefighters who could have to move equipment on a moment’s notice, said Kintner.

American Red Cross volunteers returned to southeastern Polk County to assist evacuees the a wildfire well into its third day, according to American Red Cross spokesman Phil Attinger.

“On Sunday, March 25, the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter responded to a large brush fire in the River ranch area of Polk County – east of Lake Wales off State Road 60 – with hot food, cold drinks, snacks, water and ice for Division of Forestry and Polk County fire crews, who had battled the blaze all day,” Attinger said.

On Monday the Red Cross prepared to open evacuee shelters in the Lake Wales and Frostproof areas. The first of those shelters is located at the First Baptist Church of Lake Wales, at 324 E. Central Ave., Lake Wales.
Anyone who needs assistance is urged to contact the American Red Cross there or at the Polk County Chapter office in Winter Haven at (863) 294-5941.
Every person is urged to follow all fire safety precautions, indoors or outdoors, and to make and practice a family fire escape plan, especially from wildfire, Attinger said.

The division was using about 20 firefighters, 10 bulldozers, five fire engines, two helicopters along with the help of the Polk County Fire Service, Kintner said, and one large air-tanker was used to strategically drop two 3,000-pound loads of flame retardant on the blaze.