MIAMI (CBS4) – Firefighters from the state’s park service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife andForestry service continue to battle a wildfire in the northeast sector of Everglades National Park.
Fire crews are focusing their efforts to ensure visitor and staff safety and minimize the unwanted spread of fire towards U.S. 41/Tamiami Trail, airboat concessions as well as any other private property.
A lightning strike Monday sparked the fire. Park officials said they decided to take advantage of the winds, and expected rain, and perform a prescribed burn which had been scheduled for later in the month.
In a prescribed burn, fires are set to remove fuel in advance of a wildfire front. If the burnout is successful, advancing wildfire runs out of fuel and stops.
A total 7,000 acres were burned Tuesday and firefighters ignited pockets of unburned fuel on Wednesday to reduce the risk of the wildfire spreading.
“This burnout has been successful in keeping this wildfire from reaching the developed areas adjacent to the park and minimizing the impacts to visitors and residents of the area, “said Incident Commander John Wallace. “We are hopeful that this fire will be completely contained by the end of
the day.”
Drivers in the area can expect intermittent road closures of Krome Avenue due to smoky conditions.
