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India Today
4 hours ago
- Climate
- India Today
Wildfires in Florida Everglades blanket South Florida with smoke, cut visibility
Smoke from two uncontained wildfires in the Florida Everglades spread across South Florida on Wednesday, creating hazy skies and reducing visibility in western Broward County and parts of Fort Lauderdale. Residents woke up to the smell of burning vegetation and a smoky blanket over metro state's largest blaze, the Mile Marker 39 fire, burned over 1,600 acres by Tuesday afternoon and was still entirely uncontrolled, said the Florida Forest Service. The fire first caught the attention of firefighters near Alligator Alley, near mile marker 39. Footage from helicopters showed dense plumes of smoke rising into the air, creating hazardous driving second blaze, the Sawgrass Fire, had scorched about 250 acres and was also entirely uncontained as of Wednesday morning. Together, both fires had blackened nearly 2,000 acres. Northwest winds pushed smoke into Interstate 75 and more populated areas of Broward County. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued an advisory for low visibility across Broward County, urging motorists to drive cautiously during the morning commute. While no buildings were under threat, smoke created dangerous conditions on major roads. Communities affected include Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs, Pompano Beach and Fort Broward County Natural Resources Department reported that air quality in some areas had dropped to unhealthy levels. Officials urged people with respiratory conditions, children and the elderly to remain indoors. The NWS recommended that sensitive groups limit outdoor activity.- Ends
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.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Smoke from Everglades fire causes ‘unhealthy' air quality and low visibility in Broward
Wildfire smoke wafting east from the Everglades is causing 'unhealthy' air quality and low visibility across Broward County Wednesday morning, officials say. The smoke is caused by two uncontained wildfires. The biggest fire, called the Mile Marker 39 fire, is located near Mile Marker 39 on the Sawgrass Expressway in western Broward. It has spread to 1,600 acres, according to the Florida Forest Service. A second fire called the Sawgrass Fire is farther west, and has spread to 250 acres. The smoke from both fires is drifting into metro areas of the county, according to the National Weather Service Miami. 'Exercise extra caution on the roads as visibilities may vary greatly across short distances,' NWS Miami warned on X. The Environmental Protection Agency's AirNow website rated the air quality at the reporting station in Hollywood as 'unhealthy with an Air Quality Index of 154' as of Wednesday morning, which means everyone is at risk for health effects. People who are sensitive to smoke, such as those with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens should consider limiting their time outdoors, health officials say, particularly during strenuous activities. Everyone else should also take steps to reduce physical activity outside, such as walking instead of running. This is a developing story, so check back for updates. Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox. Solve the daily Crossword
Economic Times
14 hours ago
- Climate
- Economic Times
Massive Everglades fire burns 1,600 Acres, sends smoke across South Florida roads. Check areas affected
A blanket of smoke was seen over parts of South Florida Wednesday morning as firefighters in West Broward worked to contain a brushfire in the Everglades Smoke from two brush fires burning in the Everglades are drifting over Fort Lauderdale and the western Broward County suburbs. A wildfire burning in the Florida Everglades sent the smell of smoke and haze into the air across South Florida early Wednesday. Smoke from two uncontained brush fires in the Florida Everglades has prompted visibility warnings for drivers and residents. Dubbed the 'Mile Marker 39 fire', it burned had burned 1600 acres by Tuesday afternoon, according to the Florida Forest Service. It was 0% contained. A blanket of smoke was seen over parts of South Florida Wednesday morning as firefighters in West Broward worked to contain a brushfire in the Everglades. The Florida Forest Service units responded to reports of a wildfire burning along Alligator Alley near mile marker 39. 'Look at this smoke, thick blanket of smoke choking a lot of smoke this morning,' said 7Skyforce Steven J. told Miami Herald that the 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. "Smoke from the Sawgrass & Mile Marker 39 wildfires burning in the Everglades has resulted in continued low visibilities across Broward County this morning. Exercise extra caution on the roads as visibilities may vary greatly across short distances," NWS Miami said in a post on X. ALSO READ: Target new CEO Michael Fiddelke's stunning rise from Intern to boss: Story in 10 points Roughly 2,000 acres was charred between two brush fires, according to the Florida Forest Service. The firefighting officials are currently onsite and monitoring the blaze so it doesn't affect any nearby structures or blaze, named the Sawgrass Fire, was 250 acres in size and was also 0% contained. Northwest winds pushed the smoke toward Interstate 75 and across more populated areas. Both fires are far inland in Broward County and northwest of Fort Lauderdale. Areas such as Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach are affected, reports Miami Herald. 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 issued a special weather statement for Broward County, saying visibility may drop to 3 miles or less where the smoke is densest. Drivers were advised to use caution. The air quality is "unhealthy," the county's Natural Resource Division said, and residents should consider staying inside to avoid inhaling air pollution. The NWS also told people more sensitive to particle pollution to "consider reducing your activity level or shortening the amount of time you are outdoors." The National Weather Service posted on X that people who are sensitive to particulate matter should limit their time outdoors. Air quality conditions are being monitored, and residents can check real-time updates through the Environmental Protection Agency's Air Now website. ALSO READ: 'Throw it away': US FDA issues urgent recall of 'radioactive' Walmart shrimp. Does it cause cancer?
