MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A brush fire burning in west Miami-Dade has grown significantly overnight, with new video Wednesday morning showing flames now miles from where the blaze first started.
As fog cleared at daybreak, acres of blackened sawgrass stretched across the Everglades.
In just 24 hours, the fire expanded from about 450 acres to more than 6600 — the equivalent of nearly 5,000 football fields reduced to ash.
Fire crews have named it the Highway 41 Fire, which continues to burn a few miles west of the Miccosukee Casino.
Officials have closed a large stretch of Everglades National Park, forcing nearby businesses — including Coopertown Airboats, Safari Park and Gator Park — to shut down.
As the sun set Tuesday, crews continued working to push flames back. Helicopters dropped hundreds of gallons of water, targeting several hotspots as bright orange flames burned in the distance.
Firefighters say the flames are tearing through dry sawgrass, fueled by ongoing drought conditions and steady winds.
“This wind has been blowing more to the south, so the fire has picked up in size,” said Ezra Van, a National Weather Service storm spotter.
Van said there are several natural elements that remain the biggest factors in the fire’s behavior.
“Wind, humidity, and rain are the three biggest factor,” he said. “If the wind picks up, the fire moves faster. If humidity drops, it burns faster. And rain, if it comes, could slow it down.”
The fire, which began Saturday, remains 0% contained. No injuries or property damage have been reported, and the cause is still under investigation. Crews continue to monitor conditions from the air as the fire moves through the area.
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