Fire that has burned 16,000 acres in West Miami-Dade more than halfway contained
The fires in West Miami-Dade that have sent smoke, soot and ash into nearby communities, prompting over 200 people to leave their homes, is more than half contained as of Thursday, according to the Florida Forest Service.
The Quarry Fire near Northwest 137th Avenue and 41st Street, west of Doral has burned through nearly 16,000 acres over the past five days and is 70% contained, according to the Florida Forest Service fire map. The smaller Wells Fire near Northwest 122nd Avenue and 58th Street has burned 500 acres and is 25% contained as of Wednesday night.
The Quarry fire sparked on Sunday during a thunderstorm in the grassy flats near Krome Avenue, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Raied “Ray” Jadallah told reporters on Wednesday. The Florida Forest Service initially handled the situation and MDFR joined the crews on Monday.
More than 200 people voluntarily left their trailer park.
“The evacuation was for the sanctity of life,” Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Assistant Sheriff Fernand Charles said during the Thursday news conference at Krome Avenue and Okeechobee Road. “The majority of the homeowners heeded our recommendations.”
Residents were led to undisclosed fairgrounds, though some chose to remain in their homes, Charles said. Firefighters and sheriff’s deputies have stayed behind with those residents to monitor conditions in the neighborhood.
More than 100 firefighters are battling the wildfires with assistance from the National Guard and other law enforcement agencies. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews from more than 70 stations across the county are rotating in and out every few hours to maintain around-the-clock operations.
The Florida Forest Service is also conducting controlled “back burns” to remove vegetation that could fuel the advancing fires, Jadallah said.
The fires have also prompted road closings near the Everglades. Krome Avenue remains closed between Southwest Eighth Street and Okeechobee Road, according to authorities.
Since the fires first erupted, officials have urged people with respiratory or other health concerns to remain indoors as smoke has degraded air quality across Miami-Dade and Broward counties.