Florida City brush fire fills air with smoke and ash, causes traffic delays
A Florida City brush fire filled the air with smoke and ash Sunday, causing traffic delays for travelers heading into and out of the Keys.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue was working alongside the Florida Forest Service Sunday evening to extinguish the fire and protect nearby properties in the area of Southwest 344th Street and South Dixie Highway, a spokesperson said.
No injuries have been reported, a fire rescue spokesperson said.
Thick smoke filled the air and small sheets of ash fell on the residents of the Southern Comfort RV Park on Southwest 344th Street.
“Yeah, that’s the scary thing,” said Vicky Risley, from Springfield, Illinois. “Very interesting Mother’s Day.”
Risley, 68, is “trying to be a snow bird,” the term for seasonal Floridians, and has been staying at the RV park since March.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” she said.
Risley was standing with Chelsea Keaton, 30, from southeast Texas. Keaton has been staying at the RV park since December. Her husband is a contract worker at Turkey Point nuclear power plant.
She said the smoke and flames have ebbed and flowed since Saturday night.
“It started last night, and they got it under control,” said Keaton. “But, supposedly it started up again.”
All northbound traffic on U.S. 1 and Card Sound Road has slowed due to the brush fire, and all Florida City traffic is being diverted to Krome Avenue at the RaceTrac gas station, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
The northbound traffic leaving the Keys is slow, and drivers should expect delays, the sheriff’s office said.
