West Broward brush fire quickly grows in size

More than 4,800 acres burned so far, forestry officials say

BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – A brush fire in west Broward County is quickly growing in size, forest officials said.

It's been a dicey week for a mobile home park west of U.S. Highway 27 that has been in and out of the fire's path.

"It's very scary, very scary," Awilda Soto, who lives nearby, said. "We don't know what's going to happen."

Firefighters are facing a tough battle in trying to contain the burning brush.

Crews have positioned themselves for three days to get an advantage over the flames, but Mother Nature, in the form of a cold front and strong winds, isn't helping.

"I don't think it's getting any better, and the smoke and the smell is really bad," Soto said.

Temperatures dropped overnight and the winds are expected to shift, an unpredictable mix that complicates firefighting efforts.

The smoke and flames came dangerously close on Thursday to Everglades Holiday Park, forcing nearby residents and visitors to evacuate.

"I was very anxious. There's ash everywhere. We were worried about coming back to no van," one woman said.

"It’s like it's snowing in Florida," Barrington Allen said. "Ash is falling from the sky. It’s time to get out of here. It’s getting closer by the minute."

The smoke is also providing an eerie backdrop at West Broward High School, where classes remain in session.

Broward County Public Schools officials said administrators are assessing the ash threat and will keep children indoors if air quality conditions worsen.

"I got to stay inside the house because it's for my health," Soto said. "I don't want to get sick and I have grandkids I have to protect."

The fire once threatened 20 structures at Mack's Fish Camp, but no evacuations are currently in place and no structures have been damaged, forestry officials said.

Air boating has also resumed at Everglades Holiday Park.

Forestry officials said the fire has burned more than 4,800 acres so far. The fire is 45 percent contained.

No injuries have been reported because of the fire.


About the Authors:

Terrell Forney joined Local 10 News in October 2005 as a general assignment reporter. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, but a desire to escape the harsh winters of the north brought him to South Florida.