Rain helps crews get massive brush fire under control in Southwest Miami-Dade

Tuesday's wet weather and low winds helped keep the stubborn brush fire in Southwest Miami-Dade at bay, according to the Florida Division of Forestry.

The brush fire, which began Sunday, had consumed about 2,100 acres by Tuesday and was 60 percent contained, said Scott Peterich, a spokesman for forestry.

“The conditions were far better today than yesterday,” he said.

On Monday, shifting winds pushed flames dangerously close to residential areas and businesses, but no structures have been damaged by the fire. It is not clear what started the blaze in the wooded area along Southwest 157th Avenue, stretching from Bird Road to Southwest Eighth Street.

Peterich said crews were focusing their efforts on the south side of Eighth Street on Tuesday to prevent the fire from moving toward the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Miami Field Office and the Dade County Correctional Facility.

“Right now, we have no active flames,” he said. “We just hope it stays that way.”

This story was originally published April 21, 2015 at 10:17 PM with the headline "Rain helps crews get massive brush fire under control in Southwest Miami-Dade."