Brush fire in Everglades continues, South Florida residents urged to wear masks

A brush fire continues to burn in the Florida Everglades just west of Broward County, with smoke affecting air quality across much of South Florida. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued an air quality alert on Wednesday night, warning residents sensitive to particle pollution to avoid outdoor exposure. The smoke has impacted Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties. The fire began as two separate blazes—one on Monday night near Alligator Alley at Mile Marker 39, and another on Tuesday afternoon—which later combined into a single fire. “The Mile Marker 39 fire that started the evening of August 18th is now combined with the Sawgrass fire which started last night,” said Michelle Danielson, Senior Forester at the Florida Forest Service. By Wednesday afternoon, more than 19,000 acres had burned between the two fires. Florida Forest Service rangers, assisted by Broward County Sheriff’s Office firefighters, are working around the clock to contain the blaze, though conditions remain challenging. Westerly winds pushed the smoke east into metro areas of Broward and Miami-Dade counties, blanketing the sky with thick haze and ash. Visibility was significantly reduced in parts of South Florida, with aerial footage showing heavy smoke over Interstate 75, the Palmetto Expressway, and landmarks including Hard Rock Stadium. Miami Fire Rescue Lt. Pete Sanchez urged residents with respiratory conditions—including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), children, and pregnant women—to remain indoors or wear masks if they have to go out. “This can cause a respiratory issue for them,” he said.

Wildfire smoke from fires in the Everglades will continue to impact Broward county today, with some smoke also possible in portions of Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties. Use caution outdoors, especially if you are sensitive to particle pollution. #FLwx pic.twitter.com/uSB6qPJgn6

— NWS Miami (@NWSMiami) August 21, 2025

While winds shifted west-southwest Thursday morning, officials said much of South Florida may be spared from the haze, which will now primarily affect central and northern Broward and southern Palm Beach counties. The air quality alert for Broward County expired at 9 a.m., but officials cautioned that conditions remain unhealthy for sensitive individuals. Masks are recommended for anyone venturing outdoors.