MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — Two brush fires in Miami-Dade County continued to send smoke into South Florida skies on Friday and also led to road closures.
One of the wildfires, dubbed “Quarry 2,” east of Krome Avenue, has been the most widespread, burning more than 17,000 acres as of Friday. It was 80% contained as of Friday afternoon.
It led to several road closures in Miami-Dade.
Officials continued to close Krome Avenue between Okeechobee Road and Southwest Eighth Street.
Additionally, on Friday, officials closed the southbound lanes of Florida’s Turnpike from Okeechobee Road to Northwest 41st Street.
State troopers also closed Southwest Eighth Street, also known as the Tamiami Trail, from Krome Avenue to State Road 29 in Collier County.
Ash from the brush fires drifted for miles during the week.
Patrick Mahoney, with the Florida Forest Service, said the weather hasn’t helped.
“Heat and wind has been an issue, but also the drought,” he said. “I mean, it’s still very dry through here.”
Bad conditions led to crews across several agencies working around the clock to stop the blaze from spreading from above. Helicopters dumped buckets of water on the inferno.
“Our firefighters are doing a great job,” Mahoney said. “This is what we train for. This is what we do.”
On Thursday, a firefighter with the FFS was rushed to an area hospital after a heat-related episode, but he’s expected to be OK.
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