East Naples, Florida – Video filmed by X user Joey Waves captured a massive plume of thick black and gray smoke rising high into the sky from the Hacienda Fire on the afternoon of May 18, 2026.

Recorded from a residential area near the Azure at Hacienda Lakes community, the footage shows enormous clouds of smoke billowing upward and drifting across the horizon above trees, rooftops, and nearby homes.

The fire broke out in the Picayune Strand State Forest near Rifle Range Road and quickly expanded across more than 650 acres.

Strong gusty winds from afternoon thunderstorms fueled the rapid spread of the brush fire, prompting voluntary evacuations for nearby neighborhoods.

Later in the day, heavy rain helped firefighters slow the blaze, allowing containment to reach between 45 and 55 percent overnight.

Authorities confirmed that no structures were destroyed and no injuries were reported. Evacuation orders were lifted later the same evening.

The person who filmed the video later stated that rain fully extinguished the fire the following day.

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