Firefighters are starting to get the upper hand on wildfires burning in western Miami-Dade County, as a Florida Forestry Service firefighter is recovering after getting injured. NBC6’s Marissa Bagg reports
A Florida Forest Service firefighter was hospitalized as crews continued to battle a massive brush fire in western Miami-Dade County on Thursday, a day after around 200 residents were evacuated due to the blaze.
Officials said the firefighter was injured while battling the Quarry 2 blaze and was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.
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The fire that sparked Sunday continued to grow Thursday, reaching around 17,200 acres, though it was about 75% contained, according to the Florida Forest Service.
The Florida Forest Service responded on Sunday after the fire originated from a thunderstorm and lightning strike, officials said.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue officials said their crews responded to the Quarry 2 Fire in the area of Northwest 137th Avenue and Northwest 25th Street on Monday.
A second fire, the Well Fire, has burned 1,310 acres and was 50% contained at last update on Tuesday.
At a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Ray Jadallah said several hundred firefighters and staff members were working to contain the fire on the ground and by air.
Miccosukee Police said Krome Avenue was shut down in both directions due to the brush fires that continued to burn and grow in size.
“Motorists are advised to avoid the area, expect delays, and seek alternate routes until further notice,” the department posted on X.
#TrafficAlert: Due to wildfire, all northbound and southbound lanes along S.R. 977/Krome Avenue/SW 177 Avenue between U.S. 41/S.R. 90/Tamiami Trail and U.S. 27/S.R. 25/Okeechobee Road are closed. Follow these detour routes. For real-time traffic go to https://t.co/MsAXWE1CNo. pic.twitter.com/oYqMXUPMPt
Pembroke Pines Police said Wednesday afternoon that U.S. Highway 27 southbound was also closed at Pines Boulevard due to the fire, but the roadway reopened later in the evening, police said.
The Florida Forest Service was doing a backburn to try to cut off the vegetation that was fueling the fire but Jadallah said there was no timeline for when it could be extinguished.
“This fire obviously as big as it is, at some points has actually expanded to about three quarters of a mile wide as it burned,” Jadallah said.
Officials said Wednesday that around 200 residents of nearby Mack’s Fish Camp voluntarily evacuated and many were moved to a nearby fairgrounds while some went to live with family members. Some residents were encouraged to leave but chose to stay, officials said.
“No electricity. Can’t stay where there’s no electric; I need my air conditioning,” one resident, Lisa, said after leaving her home. “I packed my medicine, and my milk that’s going bad from the refrigerator that’s been off for four hours, and my tea, and here we are.”
A nearby business had been evacuated as a precaution on Monday, and aerial footage from Chopper 6 showed flames burning near a group of power lines and crews performing water drops from the air.
No injuries have been reported, but people with respiratory conditions in the area were advised to stay indoors and recirculate the air from their air conditioners.
The NWS advised Thursday that the region could see reduced air quality as the smoke widely disperses, though it improved from unhealthy to moderate in the areas closest to the fire, according to the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map.
This means more sensitive groups “should consider reducing outdoor activity” and go inside for cleaner air in the event of symptoms.
The smell of smoke had been consistent since the fires started, and some residents in western Broward County saw ash on their cars on Wednesday. Near the fires, thick smoke clouds the sky.
Today, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and @FLForestService continued working to contain two brush fires in west Miami-Dade.
Firefighters on the ground and in the air worked to contain the fires, monitor conditions, and prevent further spread.#MDFR’s Air Rescue North and Air Rescue… pic.twitter.com/FOcJgIzmiK
A heat advisory will be in effect from noon until 7 p.m. in Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, the National Weather Service said. While not directly related to the fires, it makes the firefight more uncomfortable for first responders.
Officials said “heat indices up to 110° are possible, while wildfire smoke also continues to disperse from several local fires.”
Humidity also remains high, which helps rehydrate dry brush and makes it harder to burn. Still, the parched land could use rain; there’s a small chance for thunderstorms in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, the winds are forecast to stay light as they push north-northwest.
Today's Heat Advisory has been issued for all of South Florida as convection today focuses inland and humidity values stay elevated with onshore flow along both coasts. Heat indices up to 110° are possible, while wildfire smoke also continues to disperse from several local fires. pic.twitter.com/GR0458FSFz
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said smoke can reduce visibility on the road and cause respiratory issues. Authorities suggest that:
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