Miami-Dade County Battles Brush Fires Amid Drought Conditions

Smoke filled the skies over west Miami-Dade, near Doral, as a brush fire spread across 5,300 acres, with containment at 30% as of Wednesday morning. The fires have drastically affected the air quality and disrupted travel with intermittent road closures.

Lightning strikes ignited the fires, which have consumed over 20,000 acres since Sunday. The fires began in grassy areas near Krome Avenue during a thunderstorm, leading to the Quarry 2 Fire and the Wells Fire. The Quarry 2 Fire has reached 19,000 acres with 97% containment, while the Wells Fire has spread to 1,425 acres and is 70% contained. The Quarry 2 Fire started near Northwest 137th Avenue and Northwest 41st Street, and the Wells Fire began near Northwest 122nd Avenue and Northwest 58th Street.

“As weather and wind conditions change, residents and visitors in the community may continue seeing or smelling smoke, and nearby roadways may experience smoky or hazy conditions,”

stated Miami-Dade Fire Rescue in a Saturday morning update.

Southbound lane closures on Florida’s Turnpike from Okeechobee Road to Northwest 41st Street are now open. Krome Avenue remains shut from Okeechobee Road to Southwest Eighth Street, with plans to reopen later today. Trail Glades Shooting Range, located off Krome Avenue by Tamiami Trail, remains closed due to the fires.

A new fire, the Coptic Fire, ignited Wednesday in the Everglades, covering almost 5,000 acres with 40% containment. The ongoing drought in Florida, expected to last through summer, contributes to the fire’s spread.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill highlighted the need for multiple rainstorms to alleviate the drought.

“It’s going to take multiple rainstorms to get out of the drought,”

Merrill told the Miami Herald.

Rain could aid crews working non-stop to contain the flames. National Weather Service Meteorologist Chris Fisher noted the forecast predicts a 50% to 60% chance of rain on Saturday and Sunday, though it’s uncertain if these showers will fall over the affected areas.

Miami-Dade County maintains a “moderate” air quality rating, as per AirNow, and the National Weather Service issued a heat advisory, with heat index values potentially hitting 110 degrees. Residents are advised to limit outdoor activities, keep doors and windows shut, and set air conditioning to recirculate if smoke impacts their vicinity.

Evacuations occurred as more than 200 individuals voluntarily left a trailer park near Krome Avenue. The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office reported that evacuees from Jones Fish Camp were allowed to return home on Saturday.