Latest news with #travelplans
CBS News
16 hours ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Brush fire breaks out near Miccosukee Casino, shuts down major Miami-Dade roads
Brush fire burning in Southwest Miami-Dade may affect travel plans for Father's Day Brush fire burning in Southwest Miami-Dade may affect travel plans for Father's Day Brush fire burning in Southwest Miami-Dade may affect travel plans for Father's Day A large brush fire that erupted Saturday afternoon is still burning Sunday morning, closing down main roads Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews are still working from overnight to put out the fire. Krome Avenue from US-27 all the way to Tamiami Trail is currently shut down. A large portion of 8th Street past the Miccosukee Casino is also closed. Video shows heavy black smoke and fire crews dropping water from the sky, known as "air drops." Division Chief Operations North Horacio Rodriguez spoke to our CBS News Miami Reporter, Steve Maugeri. "Currently our rescue south is doing what we call air drops. Which they're picking up water and assisting with fire suppression," said Rodriguez. "I would suggest people just don't come to the area unless you have to," Rodriguez continued. The brush fire has burned 350 acres. On Friday night, about 30% of the fire was contained. No injuries have been reported. This is a developing with continuing updates.
CBC
5 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Freeing up hotel rooms for wildfire evacuees could hurt business but is understandable: Winnipeg Chamber
The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce says asking people to rethink travel plans in order to free up hotel space for wildfire evacuees is understandable, but also complex — especially as the tourism industry is still recovering from the bruising it took during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Our first priority as Manitoba has to be the well-being, the safety and comfort of those that are affected by the wildfires. Make no mistake about it, people always come first," said chamber president and CEO Loren Remillard. "What we would like to see from the province, though, is a wider lens to the issue to make sure that while we're dealing with the priority … we're mindful that every action is going to have ripple effects on our economy." Wildfires in Manitoba have pushed at least 21,000 people out of their homes. That's how many have registered with the Canadian Red Cross, but the province has said not all evacuees have done so. During a Monday news conference, MLA Lisa Naylor, who is responsible for Manitoba's Emergency Management Organization, urged people to reconsider non-essential travel and event plans within the province. The request to put off such travel is strictly voluntary at this point, she added. Events like conventions, however, take years to plan and are difficult to cancel, said Remillard. "It's just not as simple as [saying], 'please don't travel.' There are some threads that are interwoven that are a little more complicated, and that's conventions that are coming to town that are multi-year in the making," he said. "It's a hardship for the operators." Remillard prefaced or followed each of his remarks by underscoring that he and the chamber fully agree with the province's efforts to prioritize those displaced by the wildfires. During any emergency, such as COVID, the first response is the health of individuals, typically followed by support for those economically impacted, he said. "We can take care of Manitobans affected by the fires and as well … those impacted by the measures being taken. That's the kind of thinking that ultimately is what we're looking for," Remillard said. "It's a very small window for these operators to be able to make their livelihoods function, and as this is a sector that has come out of the pandemic bruised, battered, and in many cases, some just hanging on, they were really in need of … some pretty good years of tourism to be able to help them get back on their feet." Remillard says all businesses should consider how they can shift gears to support the evacuee effort. "We're talking about an inconvenience and an economic impact [for some], but these individuals are talking about their lives upended, potentially losing everything they own," he said. "Let's make sure we create as much space and available resources to support those who right now are fleeing their homes. But for some [businesses], it may not be as easy. It's not a black-and-white issue." Michael Juce, president and CEO of the Manitoba Hotel Association, echoed those remarks. In an email to CBC News he said "hotels are here to help" and doing their best to house evacuees. Many have reached out to ask how they can further support the evacuees, but there are some seeking clarity on the non-essential travel request, he said. "We are a diverse industry with members all over the province," many of whom count on a busy summer season, he said, adding the association will work with the province to "ensure [hotel] operators and the workers they employ are supported." Jason Krieser, interim general manager at the Victoria Inn Hotel and Convention Centre near Winnipeg's airport, said 86 of his 261 rooms are occupied by nearly 300 evacuees from either Pimicikamak Cree Nation (Cross Lake) or Flin Flon. The remaining rooms are in use or committed in the next while, so no additional space is available. "We'll have to see down the road if we do get any cancellations due to the announcement from the province," Krieser said. He doesn't foresee any major space opening, though, because a few big events are booked. A major renovation of the building's meeting space is happening over July and August, so conventions and banquets have been on hold. The only cancellations that have occurred over the last couple of weeks were, ironically, for events that groups from northern Manitoba were set to host, Krieser said. Many of those people are now there for a different reason.
