High winds flare up South Dade landfill fire
High winds caused a fire that started last Sunday at a south Miami-Dade County landfill to flare up Thursday morning, blanketing the surrounding area with acrid smoke.
Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue firefighters continued to battle heavy flames and smoke Friday morning on the northwest side of the landfill, located on Southwest 97th Avenue and 240th Street.
Fire rescue spokeswoman Helen Avendano said the fire started Sunday evening, but intensified later in the week as heavy winds from the east exacerbated the flames.
“An emergency call went out yesterday morning,” she said Friday.
It’s not clear how long the fire will continue to burn, but weather forecasters say the windy conditions fanning the flames are expected to continue until Sunday, with little chance for rain.
“Sunday is probably going to be when the winds will be noticeably lower,” National Weather Service Miami meteorologist Robert Molleda said Friday.
He said sustained winds ramped up from 20 to 30 mph Thursday, with peak gusts reaching up to 35 mph.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Lt. Kirsten Miller said the fire has burned about an acre of land so far, and coupled with the winds, has become even more stubborn because it is not easily accessible for firefighters.
“It’s been a difficult fire to put out,” she said.
On Friday morning, two fire rescue units were putting out the flames, along with workers with the Miami-Dade Department of Solid Waste Management, who were using heavy equipment to help firefighters, Miller said. Twelve units originally responded to the fire Thursday.
As far as what caused the fire, officials aren’t sure, and Miller said they may never know.
“It could have been anything. Spontaneous combustion. Someone could have thrown something away in the trash that was still smoldering. It’s very hard to determine,” Miller said.
As the smoke continues to hover over the area, officials are warning people with respiratory problems to stay indoors, keep windows closed and to circulate the air in their homes with air conditioners and fans, Avendano said.
“It’s just as a precaution,” she said.
This story was originally published January 10, 2020 at 10:13 AM.
