Wildfire destroys 200 outbuildings, burns more than 650 acres in Polk County

LAKE WALES, Fla. - A massive wildfire in Polk County that burned nearly 660 acres is 100% contained and is now under investigation, the Florida Forest Service said. 

The fire, named the Right Gate Fire, broke out on Tuesday in the area of south Lake Kissimmee and west of the Kissimmee River, and burned 658 acres by Wednesday morning. 

The fire sparked in the River Ranch camping area, forcing it to close Tuesday as crews worked to contain the fire. It destroyed 200 outbuildings including sheds, and hand-made structures.

Though the cause of the fire has yet to be determined, on Tuesday, Lakeland District Wildfire Mitigation officials said dry, windy conditions were fueling the fire. 

Mid-afternoon Wednesday, property owners were allowed to go back into River Ranch to assess the damage. They had been kept out since shortly after the fire first started.

The structures at River Ranch are uninsurable because the property is so far out, so if property owners lose a building, they have to rebuild it at their own expense.

While fire is no stranger to River Ranch, many property owners accept the reoccurring danger and possible financial loss because they are enamored with the simple outdoor lifestyle.

Karen Browning’s camp has burned four times in the last 23 years.

"Look," she said. "Can you go anywhere else in the state of Florida and ride a four-wheeler, ride a buggy, ride anything but a motorcycle, and let your children be children, like they used to be?"

Back in 2017, another fire burned 6,500 acres and took a week to get under control.