A brush fire burning through the Everglades has spread to 5,700 acres, affecting western Broward County.
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Fire crews from the Florida Forest Services, Broward Fire Rescue, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, and Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue are working to suppress the flames, which have caused smoke and ash to drift into parts of Weston and Pembroke Pines.
The Max Road fire, which is burning just west of U.S. 27, is 40% contained, according to the latest data from the Florida Forest Services. Jason Stepp, the division chief of operations for the Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue department, confirmed that the southwest portion of the fire is under control, while the northwest portion continues to actively burn.
“We did make significant headway this morning up to now,” Stepp told the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Monday. “A portion of the fire has been pretty much mitigated, and then they’re still working to mitigate the fire that’s located farther to the northwest.”
Michelle Danielson, the senior Florida Forest Services forester representing the Everglades district, told the Sun Sentinel that no communities are currently under evacuation warnings or orders. Stepp said that Pembroke Pines’ Holly Lake community, which is located near the burn area, does not face any imminent threats.
According to Florida’s 511 website, there are currently no roadway closures in Broward County related to the fire.
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Danielson said that the fire began about 2 p.m. on Sunday. Officials have not determined the cause.
Brush fires in the Everglades are often linked to drought conditions as vegetation becomes more prone to burning under hotter, drier conditions. Ana Torres-Vazquez, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Miami, said that increasing drought conditions since the end of last year — which have put much of the Everglades under an “extreme drought” classification with the U.S. Drought Monitor — may create ideal conditions for wildfires to spread.
“Yesterday, we already had those abnormally dry fuels,” Torres-Vazquez said. “With the drought conditions and the really dry soils and vegetation, it takes very little for a fire to be able to develop and propagate, and get potentially out of control.”
This is a developing story, so check back for updates. Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.
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