Schools returning to normal hours Tuesday after closing early due to Doral trash fire
Two Miami-Dade County schools that closed early Friday due to a massive, weeklong fire at an energy plant in Doral are set to return to a normal schedule Tuesday, officials said.
Though operations will resume as normal at Ronald W. Reagan Senior High School and Andrea Castillo Preparatory Academy, outdoor activities after sunset are suspended, Jaquelyn Diaz, a Miami-Dade County Public Schools spokeswoman, told the Miami Herald on Monday.
Parents of students at both schools were encouraged to pick up their children early on Friday out of an abundance of caution stemming from air quality concerns.
READ MORE: Miami-Dade officials, EPA detail where Doral stands on Day 7 of the trash plant fire
On Sunday, the county recommended that residents experiencing smoky conditions remain indoors, particularly during the evening and at night. But on Monday, the county said residents can again enjoy outdoor activities.
READ MORE: Doral trash fire still burns as schools close early, residents told to stay indoors
“We encourage you to be mindful that conditions may vary throughout the day as the wind changes and to head indoors if you experience smoky conditions,” the county said Monday in a news release. “We recommend running your air conditioning at home to re-circulate air in your house, and changing your air filter more frequently than usual.”
READ MORE: Doral smoke from trash fire hit ‘unhealthy’ levels, according to EPA monitoring report
First responders are working 24/7 to extinguish the flames that, according to an Environmental Protection Agency report, caused “unhealthy” smoke levels last week. On Saturday, an EPA official said air quality levels had steadily improved.
“Smoke levels continue to significantly improve,” the county noted Monday.
READ MORE: ‘Long-term fire’: Blaze at Miami-Dade waste-to-energy plant burning for a second day
On Feb. 12, four of 11 buildings at Covanta Energy, 6990 NW 97th Ave., a county-owned facility in Doral that specializes in burning waste to produce energy, caught fire. The blaze collapsed roofs and walls, preventing firefighters from quickly accessing the area to douse the flames.
This story was originally published February 20, 2023 at 4:28 PM.
