U.S. Wildland Fire Service firefighters are on the scene of several fires in Everglades National Park, including the Chipmunk and Vulture fires.
The Chipmunk Fire was first reported Aug. 21 and is located about two miles southwest of Shark Valley. The lightning-caused fire is estimated to be approximately 15,508 acres and was 50% contained as of Sunday afternoon.
The Vulture Fire was first reported Aug. 22 and is located east of the Shark Valley Tram Road. Also caused by lightning, the fire was also caused by lightning, is approximately 347 acres and 80% contained.
To protect park resources and allow firefighters to continue suppression efforts, an emergency closure order was in effect for the entire Shark Valley area for Sunday and most of Monday.
Everglades National Park lifted the emergency closure for the Shark Valley District at 1 p.m. Monday. All public and administrative use of the area may resume after the closure from wildfires in the area.
The Chipmunk Fire has burned approximately 17,000 acres and is now 60% contained. Fire activity is currently occurring in sawgrass prairie approximately six miles south-southwest of the Shark Valley Observation Tower.
The Vulture Fire, at 347 acres, and the Movie Dome Fire, at 6,207 acres, are both 100% contained.
Firefighters are currently working to contain the Chipmunk fire through direct suppression along the fire edges and indirect tactics that use natural barriers to limit the fires' spread. Engines, crews and aircraft are supporting operations. Additional resources will be added if needed.
The fires in that area is the 116 acre Lemur fire, discovered the afternoon of Aug. 21 and reported as natural.
For updated fire information and park status, visit Everglades National Park's Alerts & Conditions page: https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/conditions.htm.
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