Large smoke plume from 8,600-acre wildfire might drift over South Florida homes
The three-day wildfire roaring through Everglades National Park is not losing steam as fire crews have yet to contain the blaze, which has scorched more than 8,600 acres. While authorities say the fire poses no threat to residents, a coming wind-direction change will blow its smoke over South Florida homes and businesses overnight.
As of Wednesday evening, the wildfire south of Highway 41 (Tamiami Trail) and east of Shark Valley has grown from a few hundred acres mid-day Monday to about 8,653 acres, according to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group.
U.S. Wildland Fire Services and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue are using planes, helicopters and a plethora of ground vehicles to attack and contain the wildfire’s spread. However, it still remains at 0% containment, the federal agency said.
Miami-Dade and Broward County residents have been benefitting from favorable winds that have kept the large smoke plume away from homes and businesses. Later Wednesday night, the National Weather Service forecasts that those winds will shift, sending smoke toward the metro areas of both counties.
Winds will be light, between 5 and 10 mph, and will mostly affect those closest to the wildfire in the western neighborhoods of Miami-Dade, said NWS Meteorologist Nico Porcelli. For now, weather models don't show visibility decreasing Thursday morning to problematic levels for commuters.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue is advising that people with respiratory issues should stay indoors if smokey conditions impact their area.
A swath of closures at Everglades National Park is also still in effect. The affected area is between the L-67 Canal on the west and the L-31 Canal on the east from U.S. Route 41 south to several miles north of Mahogany Hammock. The closures include all parking lots, facilities and navigable waterways within that area.
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