Two wildfires burning in the Florida Everglades sent thick plumes of smoke drifting across South Florida overnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning, reducing visibility on roadways and raising air quality concerns.
The larger blaze — dubbed the Mile Marker 39 Fire — had scorched 1,600 acres northwest of Fort Lauderdale by early Wednesday and remained 0% contained, according to the Florida Forest Service. A smaller fire nearby, called the Sawgrass Fire, has burned roughly 250 acres. The causes of the fires are still under investigation.
Smoke blanketed much of Broward County during the morning commute, with drivers reporting hazy conditions as far east as Plantation and along major roadways including University Drive, Interstate 595, and I-95 near Sheridan Street. Traffic cameras also captured flames burning in the Everglades.
The National Weather Service warned that visibility on roadways could dip to less than five miles in some areas where smoke is densest. “Exercise extra caution on the roads as visibilities may vary greatly across short distances,” forecasters in Miami cautioned.
Beyond traffic hazards, officials said the fires were also affecting air quality. Broward County’s Natural Resource Division classified air quality as “unhealthy”, especially for people with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, children, and older adults. Residents were urged to limit outdoor activities if possible.
Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue reported residents smelling smoke throughout the metro area late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Smoke has also spread south into Miami-Dade County.
The fires come as South Florida is already sweltering under a heat advisory, with the National Weather Service warning of a heat index as high as 110 degrees from Homestead to West Palm Beach.
The Everglades — a 1.5 million-acre subtropical wetland of sawgrass, marshes and mangroves — is no stranger to wildfires, which are sometimes sparked by lightning or human activity. But with high heat and dry conditions, officials warn the blazes could continue to spread.
