A brush fireplace continues to burn within the Florida Everglades simply west of Broward County, with smoke affecting air high quality throughout a lot of South Florida.
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The Nationwide Climate Service (NWS) issued an air high quality alert on Wednesday evening, warning residents delicate to particle air pollution to keep away from out of doors publicity. The smoke has impacted Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Seaside counties.
The fireplace started as two separate blazes—one on Monday evening close to Alligator Alley at Mile Marker 39, and one other on Tuesday afternoon—which later mixed right into a single fireplace. “The Mile Marker 39 fireplace that began the night of August 18th is now mixed with the Sawgrass fireplace which began final evening,” mentioned Michelle Danielson, Senior Forester on the Florida Forest Service.
By Wednesday afternoon, greater than 19,000 acres had burned between the 2 fires. Florida Forest Service rangers, assisted by Broward County Sheriff’s Workplace firefighters, are working across the clock to comprise the blaze, although situations stay difficult.
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 considerably decreased in elements of South Florida, with aerial footage exhibiting heavy smoke over Interstate 75, the Palmetto Expressway, and landmarks together with Onerous Rock Stadium.
Miami Fireplace Rescue Lt. Pete Sanchez urged residents with respiratory situations—together with bronchial asthma, persistent obstructive pulmonary illness (COPD), youngsters, and pregnant girls—to stay indoors or put on masks in the event that they need to exit.
“This may trigger a respiratory situation for them,” he mentioned.
Wildfire smoke from fires within the Everglades will proceed to influence Broward county at this time, with some smoke additionally attainable in parts of Palm Seaside and Miami-Dade counties. Use warning outdoor, particularly in case you are delicate to particle air pollution. #FLwx pic.twitter.com/uSB6qPJgn6
— NWS Miami (@NWSMiami) August 21, 2025
Whereas winds shifted west-southwest Thursday morning, officers mentioned a lot of South Florida could also be spared from the haze, which is able to now primarily have an effect on central and northern Broward and southern Palm Seaside counties.
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The air high quality alert for Broward County expired at 9 a.m., however officers cautioned that situations stay unhealthy for delicate people. Masks are advisable for anybody venturing outdoor.
