Massive Smoke Plume Seen from 1,000-Acre Naples Brush Fire

Blaze in Picayune Strand grows rapidly, sending towering clouds of smoke across Collier County

Apr. 14, 2026 at 12:55am

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A vast, atmospheric landscape painting in muted earth tones, with a massive column of dark smoke rising up from the horizon and obscuring the sky, conveying the overwhelming power of nature and the fragility of the human presence within it.A towering plume of smoke from a rapidly growing brush fire in the Everglades casts a foreboding shadow over the surrounding landscape.Naples Today

A brush fire in the Picayune Strand area of Collier County, Florida has grown to over 1,000 acres as of Monday night, April 13. The massive smoke plume from the fire has been visible for miles around the Naples region, with towering clouds of dark smoke drifting across the area.

Why it matters

Brush fires are a common occurrence in the Everglades region, but this particular blaze has grown rapidly and is producing an unusually large smoke column that is impacting visibility and air quality across a wide area. Wildfires pose a serious threat to nearby communities and can cause significant damage if not contained quickly.

The details

The fire began on Monday afternoon in the Picayune Strand State Forest, a protected wetland area just north of Naples. Strong winds and dry conditions have allowed the fire to spread quickly, growing from a small brush fire to over 1,000 acres in a matter of hours. Firefighters from multiple agencies are currently working to contain the blaze, but the thick smoke is making their efforts challenging.

  • The fire started on Monday afternoon, April 13.
  • By Monday night, the fire had grown to over 1,000 acres in size.

The players

Picayune Strand State Forest

A protected wetland area located just north of Naples, Florida that is part of the greater Everglades ecosystem.

Collier County Fire Rescue

The fire department responsible for responding to and containing the brush fire in the Picayune Strand.

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What’s next

Firefighters will continue working through the night to try and get the blaze under control before it can spread further and potentially threaten nearby communities. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fire.

The takeaway

This large and rapidly growing brush fire is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by wildfires in the Everglades region, especially during periods of dry and windy weather. The towering smoke plume has disrupted visibility and air quality across a wide area, underscoring the need for vigilance and preparedness when it comes to managing these types of natural disasters.