Card Sound Road into the Florida Keys reopens as wildfire burns through the brush
Card Sound Road, one of the two roads leading in and out of the Florida Keys, reopened Tuesday night after a large brush fire had caused the highway to be closed for more than a day.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office announced around 10 p.m. Tuesday that the highway was open, but warned drivers to continue to monitor for possible closures.
Authorities had closed the road Monday morning as Miami-Dade County and Florida Forest Service firefighters battled to contain the blaze.
Scott Peterich, a spokesman for the Florida Forest Service, said Tuesday morning that Forest Service members were assessing the situation. On Monday, high easterly winds made it difficult to contain the fire. Firefighters were trying hard to keep it on the east side of Card Sound Road to prevent it from making a jump to U.S. 1.
At 5 p.m. Tuesday, the agency had sent an alert saying that the road was still closed, and rush hour traffic was backing up on the northbound lanes of U.S. 1 heading out of the Keys.
Most people traveling to and from the Keys take the 18 Mile Stretch of U.S. 1, which leads from Florida City to Key Largo. But drivers can also take Card Sound Road from Florida City. Card Sound leads east to County Road 905, which goes to Key Largo.
Alabama Jack’s, a popular bar and restaurant, is located on Card Sound Road.
By Tuesday night, Scott Peterich, a spokesman for the Florida Forest Service, said the fire is 80% contained. About 13,000 acres of vegetation had already burned.
This story was originally published May 4, 2021 at 10:18 AM.
