Latest news with #MileMarker39Fire
Miami Herald
8 hours ago
- Climate
- Miami Herald
Everglades fires grow tenfold and burn over 19,000 acres in Broward: officials
The two wildfires burning in the Everglades, prompting an air-quality alert for Broward County, have combined and grown tenfold, burning over 19,000 acres by Wednesday afternoon, according to the Florida Forest Service. There are currently no structures at risk as the fire stems from sawgrass burning. The fire was at 0% containment, as of Wednesday afternoon. The fires, which led the National Weather Service Miami to issue an air-quality alert beginning at 10 p.m. Wednesday and continuing through 9 a.m. Thursday, started on Monday evening, said the FFS. The alert is for the entire county as the winds move the smoke eastward. As of Wednesday morning, the Mile Marker 39 Fire had burned 1,600 acres, and the Sawgrass Fire, 250 acres, the National Weather Service Miami reported. Those two fires combined and burned more than 19,000 acres by Wednesday afternoon. The National Weather Service recommends that vulnerable populations, including people with respiratory conditions, limit their time outdoors. READ MORE: Air-quality alert for Broward issued due to Everglades fires. Smoke moving east The fire is being fueled by northwesterly winds, which are pushing smoke toward Broward and Miami-Dade, said Meteorologist Sammy Hadi with the National Weather Service in Miami. Broward will get the brunt of the smoke; Miami-Dade residents can expect hazy skies and the smell of smoke. 'The smoke from these fires will be blown to the southeast toward Broward and Miami-Dade counties,' Hadi said, adding that skies will remain hazy through the day with 'potential for periods of time with reduced visibility.' Areas in southwest Broward, including Miramar, Pembroke Pines and Weston, are the most affected. But conditions may change in the evening. 'Overnight … the wind will shift more westerly and southwesterly, which could open up more Broward County to smoke,' Hadi said, pointing to Plantation, Tamarac, and Margate as potentially impacted. Hadi explained that smoke tends to linger near the ground in the morning due to an atmospheric inversion, but as winds pick up, the smoke rises. That improves surface-level air quality, though the haze remains noticeable. At North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines, visibility got down to two to three miles of visibility in the early morning, said Hadi. At Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, visibility was down to five miles. Visibility will improve as the smoke rises in the afternoon, said Hadi, though shifting wind patterns could change that. Visibility on the roads throughout the night will not be largely impacted, said NWS Miami's meteorologist Anthony Reyes. But motorists who are going west on I-75 near Alligator Alley have to be extra cautious. Hurricane Erin will also come into play as far as how winds will push the smoky air, Hadi explained. 'It will begin to veer as Erin continues to push further away. The wind will shift from a northwesterly direction to a westerly in the southwesterly direction.'
Miami Herald
11 hours ago
- Climate
- Miami Herald
Air-quality alert for Broward issued due to Everglades fires. Smoke moving east
The National Weather Service issued an air-quality alert for all of Broward County starting Thursday evening and continuing through Friday morning due to two large wildfires burning in the Everglades. The alert, issued around noon Wednesday, will go into effect at 10 p.m. and run through 9 a.m. Friday, the Miami weather service said, as smoke is expected to drift eastward from the Everglades blazes. The Mile Marker 39 Fire is now covering 1,600 acres, and the Sawgrass Fire is at 250 acres, the National Weather Service Miami reported Wednesday. Both fires were 0% contained as of Wednesday morning, according to the Florida Forest Service. READ MORE: Wildfires in Everglades spreads to more than 1,800 acres, smoke affecting Broward Many Broward residents have called 911 to report the smell of smoke as far as the eastern part of the county, according to Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue. Here are steps to take to limit your risk of smoke inhalation: The National Weather Service recommends that vulnerable populations, including people with respiratory conditions, limit their time outdoors. Officials are urging the public to track local air quality through the Environmental Protection Agency's AirNow website, which provides updated data in real time. As of Wednesday morning, the air quality in much of Broward was listed as moderate, according to AirNow. During the early morning hours, the air quality in the county was considered unhealthy. Officials are also warning commuters to be extra cautious while driving as smoke could impair their visibility of the roadways. Drivers should use their car's air conditioning on recirculate.
Miami Herald
15 hours ago
- Climate
- Miami Herald
Wildfires in Everglades spreads to more than 1,800 acres, smoke affecting Broward
Two wildfires in the Everglades spread to more than 1,800 acres as of Wednesday morning and the smoke is creating hazy skies and reducing visibility on roadways in metro and coastal Broward County, authorities say. The National Weather Service in Miami reported that smoke from the Mile Marker 39 Fire, now at 1,600 acres, and the Sawgrass Fire, at 250 acres, both 0% contained, according to the Florida Forest Service, is spreading eastward with northwesterly winds. At times, visibility may drop to 3 miles or less. Areas such as Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach are affected. Drivers are urged to use caution during their morning commutes, as visibility may change suddenly across short distances. Authorities are also advising people sensitive to smoke and air pollution to limit outdoor activity. The National Weather Service says if you are unusually sensitive to particle pollution, consider reducing your activity level or shortening the amount of time you are outdoors. Air quality conditions are being monitored, and residents can check real-time updates through the Environmental Protection Agency's Air Now website.
