The Highway 41 Fire in Everglades National Park has been downgraded to a lower severity level and remains at 9,149 acres.
Fire officials said containment is now at 77 percent as of Saturday morning.
Earlier Saturday , the fire was downgraded to a Type 4 incident. On the wildland fire incident command level chart a Type 4 incident is the second least complex type of fire. On that chart Type 5 is the least complex, while Type 1 is the most complex.
Due to ongoing dry conditions and shifting winds, fire officials said crews will continue monitoring and patrolling containment lines over the next several days.
Fire officials also said that the fire threatened 41 structures and already has a $2 million firefighting price tag.
Information from fire officials said a 2,500-acre wildfire of undetermined origin was reported Monday evening burning near the Shark Valley area of the Everglades along U.S. 41, about six miles west of Miami.
But by Tuesday evening national fire officials were reporting the fire had doubled in size to 5,000 acres.
It jumped to 8,500 acres by Wednesday and then grew the extra 600-acres by Thursday afternoon.
The U.S. Wildland Fire Service has responded with ground and aviation resources, including direct and indirect contact methods. Forty-four firefighting personnel are now assigned with one fire engine, five helicopters and two fixed-wing aircraft working the blaze.
Public drone use near the Highway 41 Fire is strictly prohibited and poses a serious safety risk. Unauthorized drones can force aerial firefighting operations to stop, putting firefighters and the public at greater risk. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in effect—do not fly any aircraft, including drones, in the fire area.
At 8 a.m. Thursday, the park amended an emergency closure order to exclude the airboat concessioners and airboat trails on the northwestern corner of the original closure. The remaining closure is still in place due to ongoing fire activity.
Coopertown, Gator Park, and Safari Park businesses have reopened to the public and can be contacted directly for hours of operation.
Closures otherwise remain in place for the area between the L-67 Canal on the west and the L-31 Canal on the east, from US 41 south to several miles north of Mahogany Hammock.
Smoke impacts are expected along U.S. Route 41, and temporary road closures may be implemented if conditions deteriorate.
Additional closures and updates may be necessary and will be posted on the park’s website under Current Conditions.
Public Safety Advisory
Motorists traveling through the area are urged to: Exercise caution; Reduce speed and use low-beam headlights in smoky conditions; Allow extra travel time; Be alert for emergency personnel and equipment operating along roadways; Monitor local traffic updates and emergency alerts.
Evacuation Trigger Points
Residents in the area should be aware of the potential fire impacts and trigger points (posted at the link below) for evacuation status using the Ready, Set, Go model:
Ready – Be aware of wildfire in the area. Have an action plan in place.
Set – Stay informed, monitor local conditions via web alerts and local media. Prepare a go bag and be ready to evacuate if conditions deteriorate.
Go – Follow directions, secure home, evacuate early.
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