VIDEO: Using heavy equipment and making airdrops, Florida Forest Service workers are making progress in containing a massive Everglades wildfire burning in western Boward. The Florida Forest Service said the fire, which has burned 48,000 acres, was 85% contained as of Sunday afternoon.
The fire originally started out as two separate brush fires a week ago Monday: the Mile Marker 39 Fire and the Sawgrass Fire. Michelle Danielson, with the Florida Forest Service, said they combined last Wednesday morning and have burned land nearly twice the size of the entire Disney World Resort complex in Kissimmee, just south of Orlando. The fuels are primarily sawgrass.
During much of last week, smoke from the fires drifted east and impacted the air quality in Broward. Those sensitive to particle pollution were warned to limit their time outdoors. By Friday, Broward’s Natural Resource Division said the air quality for the county had improved to moderate. A sea breeze, which developed during the day, pushed the smoke to the west.
On Saturday, the air quality was also listed as moderate. It improved on Sunday to good. On Monday, the air quality was also listed as good, according to AirNow.gov. The fire is far inland in Broward County and northwest of Fort Lauderdale. The Florida Forest Service told CBS News Miami that it is not impacting properties. The Florida Forest Service said the two fires were first reported Monday evening after severe thunderstorms.
Thom Coletti, a forest service supervisor, said he was driving on U.S. 27 on Monday when he saw the lightning strikes that started them. The Florida Forest Service said the fire will likely burn itself out in a few days when it runs out of fuel.
