POLK COUNTY, Fla. — According to the Florida Forest Service, a brush fire in the River Ranch area of Polk County dubbed the Right Gate fire, is now 100% contained.
The brush fire was first reported Tuesday afternoon and is located off State Road 60, just east of Frostproof. Evacuations were reportedly underway Tuesday for homes and buildings in the Canopy Oaks portion of River Ranch.
As of Wednesday morning, the fire was 80% contained, and now in the evening, it's completely contained.
Approximately 200 outbuildings have been lost as a result of the blaze.
No one is reported to be hurt, and investigators are still working to learn how the fire started.
Wind and the dry brush conditions were making it more difficult to contain on Tuesday. Multiple agencies were assisting with the brush fire including crews from Lakeland, Orlando, and Okeechobee.
Drought conditions started to develop in west Central Florida in February but have continued to worsen through March. The latest drought monitor came in last week, and it showed the entire Tampa Bay area under a moderate drought. The worse conditions are across Southwest Florida where a severe drought has continued to expand.
The concern is that with dry weather continuing this drought will only expand and strengthen. That could cause issues across the state including higher wildfire risks.
10 Tampa Bay meteorologist Tyler Moore contributed to this article.