By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• Wildfires in southern Florida have burned thousands of acres across the Everglades and surrounding areas, officials said.
• The larger blaze southwest of Fort Lauderdale has scorched about 5,600 acres and is roughly 30 % contained.
• A separate fire near Homestead in Miami-Dade County has burned about 300 acres and also shows about 30 % containment.
• Smoke has reduced visibility on roads and prompted closures at some attractions and travel routes.
• Fire crews, supported by the National Guard, continue containment efforts as dry conditions persist.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. — A pair of wildfires have burned thousands of acres across Broward and Miami-Dade counties in southern Florida, prompting road closures and attraction shutdowns as fire crews work to contain the blazes, officials said.
The larger of the two fires, known locally as the Max Road Fire, has burned an estimated 5,600 acres in the Everglades southwest of Fort Lauderdale and is approximately 30 % contained, according to the Florida Forest Service and other agency updates.
In Miami-Dade County near Homestead, another wildfire covering about 300 acres also shows about 30 % containment, officials said. Smoke from both fires has reduced visibility, affecting travel and prompting closures at locations including Everglades Holiday Park.
Visibility problems led to traffic adjustments, including diversions on U.S. 1 in Florida City, and officials advise residents and motorists to monitor conditions due to fluctuating air quality.
Firefighters from local departments, the Florida Forest Service and the National Guard are engaged in containment operations. The prolonged dry conditions associated with peak wildfire season are a factor in fire behavior, and rain chances later this week may assist suppression efforts, according to the National Weather Service.