Homestead, Fla. - Higher winds out of the southeast today are testing the western boundary of the Sunday Afternoon Fire in Everglades National Park. Aerial support and hand-crews on the ground are patrolling the jagged six-mile western perimeter of the fire for hidden hot spots to prevent additional spread. While fire is easily extinguished on emergent vegetation, the organic soil continues to smolder and often ignites unburned vegetation.
Today’s aerial reconnaissance showed no additional growth. Containment of the fire has increased to 50%, up from 35% yesterday on park lands, and 90% on state lands. The fire remains at approximately 1,291 acres.
Everglades fire crews assisted Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and Florida Forest Service with two new fires in the same area yesterday. One fire had the potential to grow and spread rapidly, but because fire personnel were nearby, they responded quickly. The Florida Forest Service is managing the new fires, named the 202 Avenue Fire and the Tire Fire.
With the current drought and recent windy conditions, fire danger is high. Everyone can help prevent wildfires by fully extinguishing cigarettes, reporting smoke and fire immediately, and carefully monitoring and fully extinguishing any outdoor fires.
Water flows from modified operations by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) are increasing water levels in the marsh, which will reduce the potential for the fire to spread northward.
Although impacts should continue to lessen, surrounding communities in Miami-Dade and Broward counties may experience smoke from the wildfire. Drivers should use caution when smoke is on the road. Individuals with respiratory conditions should stay indoors when smoke is present.
The Sunday Afternoon Fire started on April 19 just south and east of the Everglades National Park boundary, north of SW 112 Street and west of the L31 N Canal Road in the Fire Mutual Response Zone (MRZ), an area where the National Park Service shares fire response with the Florida Forest Service. The wildfire then spread into the northeastern part of the Park, approximately 5 miles south of US Highway 41.
The fire is actively burning in sawgrass prairie, brush, and invasive Australian pine and melaleuca in Everglades National Park and on state lands.
Although the cause of the fire remains under investigation, human influence is likely, as there were no recorded lightning strikes in the area.
In addition to Everglades Fire and Aviation, personnel from Big Cypress National Preserve, Alaska Fire Service, Florida Forest Service, South Florida Water Management District, US Forest Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Great Smoky Mountains National Park and aviation resources from the Silver King Fire are assisting.
Tags: fire fires wildfire air tankers
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
