All roads to Keys reopen as fire crews continue to battle brushfire
All roads into the Florida Keys reopened late Friday afternoon as fire crews continue to try to contain the 400-acre brushfire that sparked Thursday.
Around 4:20 p.m., the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office announced Card Sound Road and the 18-Mile Stretch of U.S. 1 into the Florida Keys have fully reopened in both directions.
On Thursday, around 2:40 p.m., Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and the Florida Forest Service rushed to a fire near Card Sound Road and Southwest 392 Street. Since then, helicopters have been performing water drops, and water-tender truckers arrived to help extinguish the blaze, according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. More than 20 fire crews are in the area working to contain it.
The fire has grown to 400 acres and was only 25% contained as of Friday morning, according to the Forest Service. Battling the blaze are 20 firefighters, three fire-truck engines, two helicopters and other resources.
Both major roads are still expected to be closed intermittently. MCSO expects continued disruption entering and exiting the Florida Keys due to the fire’s migration.
Weather may help lessen spread
In mid-March, the Florida Forest Service, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and Monroe County Fire Rescue spent more than a week battling a 26,000-acre brushfire that caused full road closures to the Florida Keys and polluted air with smoke.
READ MORE: ‘Under control’: Massive brush fire in south Miami-Dade is 80% contained, officials say
At the time, South Florida was experiencing severe drought-like weather, which caused red-flag warnings that alerted residents that brushfires could be more prevalent. Low humidity, strong winds and warm temperatures contributed to the massive March blaze.
However, while NWS Miami Meteorologist-in-Charge Robert Molleda told the Miami Herald it is too early to find causes, one of many possibilities for the new fire is that South Florida has not completely escaped those drought-like conditions even through recent rain showers.
Rain has helped keep general drought conditions low, he said, but it could also lead to more fuel for brushfires when vegetation dries up after the rain clouds and thunderstorms abate.
Compared to March’s weather conditions, Molleda said there is a good chance this new blaze may not see as much spread as the 26,000-acre fire. There’s a bit more humidity and lighter winds in the area, which are positive factors in fire containment.
In the meantime, as firefighters work to contain the blaze, fire rescue is cautioning nearby residents that they might experience smoky conditions and should stay away from the area.
This story was originally published May 8, 2025 at 7:40 PM.
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