The firefight continues to contain a wildfire that has burned thousands of acres in western Miami-Dade and Broward counties on Tuesday.
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Fire rescue crews have been working to contain the Max Road fire, burning west of U.S. 27, since Sunday. As of Tuesday night it had burned 11,090 acres and is 60% contained, according to the Florida Forest Service.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue officials said they first received reports of a brush fire near North Krome Avenue and Northwest 186th Street. More than 12 of their units arrived at the scene, and air rescue began water drops.
Agencies including MDFR, the Florida Forest Service and Broward Sheriff’s Fire Rescue are working together to protect nearby properties and surrounding areas. Residents are encouraged to monitor road closures.
No injures have been reported.
Meanwhile, officials warned that another blaze in Florida City caused low visibility on U.S. 1.
Smoky conditions and much-needed rain
Hot and humid conditions continue across South Florida, with a round of afternoon thunderstorms expected Tuesday and Wednesday.
“While the rainfall may assist in firefighting efforts,” Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s Public Information Officer Erika Benitez warned on Monday, “it may also cause smoke and haze to settle closer to the ground, potentially impacting some of the nearby communities.”
The National Weather Service urges caution for sensitive groups such as children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems, as exposure to air pollutants can cause headaches, difficulty breathing, irritate eyes and sinuses, and more.
The breeze is expected to pick up in the afternoon and push north, which could lead to smoky conditions in areas like Weston.
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Additionally, the storms could be on the strong side, with damaging wind gusts looking like the primary impact. Residents should watch for frequent lightning and heavy rain.
Neighbor says fire blocked ‘the only road’ out
On Monday, video showed flames tumbling through the dry sawgrass as smoke filled the air just west of U.S. 27.
The flames quickly pushed closer to homes near Max’s Fish Camp and Airboat Rides, where Roxanne Gil and her boyfriend were home with their 1-year-old child.
“We were sitting on the couch, and his father called and said there was a fire,” she said. “We went outside, and there was just smoke immediately not even ten minutes from the house.”
Roxanne said that to make matters worse, there was only one roadway to safety.
“There was no way to leave; the fire was blocking the only road, the only way was to take an airboat,” she said.
She said she and her neighbors quickly jumped into action.
“I had to hose down my house, neighbors hosed down their trailers before the fire department came,” she said.
The fire threatened several homes, but residents told NBC6 that they are OK.
The smoke and flames also drifted towards a Pembroke Pines community, and, according to police, fire crews stationed along the perimeter of the Holly Lake community, where they monitored conditions.
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