One of a pair of wildfires that broke out late Sunday near Alligator Alley in the Florida Everglades and the Big Cypress National Preserve has now grown to nearly 25,000 acres with no containment yet and is threatening roadways in the area.
Smoke from that fire, called the National Wildfire, is currently impacting several major roadways, including I-75/Alligator Alley, State Road 29 and U.S. Route 41/Tamiami Trail.
A forecasted wind shift Tuesday night could increase smoke impacts in surrounding areas and along transportation corridors. Drivers should expect reduced visibility and the potential for temporary roadway closures.
According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the National Fire is currently at 24,014 acres and no containment. There were 100 structures under threat and 72 firefighters involved in fighting the blaze with 13 fire engines, four helicopters, three fixed wing aircraft, and three tankers. Cost of fighting the fire so far is at $200,000.
A public safety advisory has been issued warning motorists traveling through the area are urged to:
- Exercise extreme 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.
Temporary road closures may be implemented if conditions deteriorate.
Firefighting Operations
Firefighting efforts on the National Wildfire have continued throughout the day and are crews actively working to keep the fire within the following area:
- South of I-75
- East of SR 29
- North of Lower and Upper Wagon Wheel
- West of Turner River Road
Crews continue to set fires continue along roadways to help contain the wildfire within the specific burn area. These operations are strategic and intended to remove unburned fuels ahead of the advancing fire to reduce risk to infrastructure and public safety.
Fire crews continue to coordinate efforts to fight and contain the wildfire and will continue monitoring conditions closely, especially in anticipation of shifting winds.
That larger National Fire is just south of Alligator Alley in the Big Cypress National Preserve near Ochopee as firefighters attacked the blaze on the ground and from the air.
Riki Hoopes, a spokeswomen for the combined state and federal firefighting agencies, now wrapped into the U.S. Wildland Forest Service, said Tuesday afternoon the larger fire is growing.
“We are currently expecting it to get quite a bit bigger,” she said.
Hoopes said a significant segment of the increased size of the wildfire is from acreage scorched as backfires overnight and on Tuesday along Turner Road, S.R. 29, and Interstate 75, also known as Alligator Alley.
“Most of acreage gained was from defensive burns overnight in order to keep the fire from hitting the road hard,” she said. “This will help eliminate the fuel along the road so when the fire hits it will give it a buffer.”
Hoopes said no structures have been damaged and no firefighters have been hurt.
"It’s an exceptionally dry year. We haven’t had any precipitation in months so it’s not unusual to see fires spread in a couple year’s growth like that," Hoopes said.
A second brush fire, just to the north of Alligator Alley was kept to under 5-acres Monday night.
A Red Flag Warning was issued for the Everglades earlier Monday as cold, dry air swept south down the Florida Peninsula over Sunday night into Monday morning.
Early last weekend, wildland firefighting agencies began sounding the alarm about the wildfire potential for Monday. Hoopes said the flames were first seen Sunday night, probably coming from the National Fire, which is the bigger of the two.
Forest firefighters have been dreading Florida’s spring wildfire season for months as a drought has blanketed much of South and western Florida for a year.
Hoopes said no homes or residents were in danger Monday night, but some of the back roads within the Big Cypress were closed so firefighters on the ground could work.
Due to the location of the fire, the active fire behavior and weather conditions, fire managers implemented an area closure for all areas south of I-75, east of SR 29, north of HWY 41, and west of TRU 2, Concho Billie Trail, and Skillet North (see accompanying map).
"Even if we don’t anticipate any major safety concerns we want to ensure that anyone near the fire drive cautiously that they stay out of restricted areas, and they just use as much common sense and caution when in the area.”
Late Tuesday the Florida Highway Patrol issued the following notice:
Florida Highway Patrol State Troopers continue to monitor ongoing wildfire conditions along Interstate 75 (Alligator Alley between mile markers 65–85) in Collier County. All lanes remain open at this time; however, wildfire activity and smoke may significantly reduce visibility on the roadway. Motorists traveling through the area are urged to use caution, reduce speed, and remain alert for changing conditions.
- DRIVE WITH LIGHTS on low beam. High beams will only be reflected off the fog and impair visibility even more. Your lights help other drivers see your vehicle, so be sure they all work. Keep your windshield and headlights clean, to reduce the glare and increase visibility.
- SLOW DOWN and watch your speedometer before you enter a patch of fog.
- WATCH OUT for slow-moving or stopped vehicles. Open you window a little and listen for traffic you cannot see.
- REDUCE THE DISTRACTIONS in your vehicle. Turn off the radio and keep your cell phone down. Your full attention is required.
- USE WIPERS AND DEFROSTERS for maximum visibility. Sometimes it is difficult to determine if poor visibility is due to fog or moisture on the windshield.
- USE THE RIGHT EDGE of the road or painted road markings as a guide.
- BE PATIENT avoid passing and/or changing lanes.
- SIGNAL TURNS well in advance and brake early as you approach a stop.
- DO NOT STOP on an Interstate or heavily traveled road. You could become the first link in a chain-reaction collision. If you must pull off the road, signal, then carefully pull off as far as possible and turn your hazard lights on.
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