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CBS News
2 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Grass fire near Krome Avenue contained, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue says
Firefighters made significant progress in containing a grass fire near Krome Avenue and SW 8th Street in Southwest Miami-Dade on Wednesday afternoon, according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. Fire containment efforts Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units, working alongside the Florida Forest Service, battled the blaze, stationing crews along the roadway to prevent the fire from spreading and to protect nearby structures, the agency reported. The efforts allowed local traffic to continue safely, though conditions could lead to intermittent road closures, officials said. Road closure update Authorities confirmed that SW 8th Street westbound was temporarily closed due to the fire, according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. No injuries have been reported, the agency added.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Sign of drought ending: Lee County burn ban ends
Lee County commissioners lifted the burn ban today (June 3) that's been in place since April 15. According to the Florida Forest service the Keetch-Byram Drought Index has dropped to under 500 after recent rains. A burn ban is prompted by a measurement more than 600. County Attorney Richard Wesch told commissioners the ban would expire on June 5 without their action, but a motion by Chairman Kevin Ruane to end it immediately was passed unanimously. Under the ban no open burring was allowed except for grilling food. Officials encourage residents who need to burn to do so responsibly and follow rules for burning. Information is available from the Florida Forest Service at City residents should check their city's website in case more restrictive rules exist. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Drought index drops - so does Lee County burn ban
CBS News
5 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Southwest Miami-Dade brush fire disrupts travelers as flames, smoke force major road closures
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and the Florida Forest Service are still trying to put out a wildfire that sparked up over the weekend in southwestern Miami-Dade County. The fire shut down Southwest 8th Street since Saturday afternoon and has since reopened. Meanwhile, Krome Avenue from US-27 to Tamiami Trail is still closed. Road closures are impacting people's weekend plans Mary said she had an appointment at 8 a.m. to visit her relative at the Everglades Reentry Center Prison. But cones and the Florida Highway Patrol had closed off her only way to get there on Southwest 8th Street. "Ain't telling me nothing, but I knew I can't go through that scene," she said. CBS News Miami told her why: It's a forest fire that has been burning since Saturday night. It had burned through 450 acres as of Sunday afternoon. Smoke was visible in the morning as MDFR kept putting out hot spots from the air. Mary said she had to schedule her visit at the prison a week in advance, and now she said she likely will have to reschedule. "We left home really early — six o'clock this morning," Mary said. "We get down here and we get in a line." Southwest 8th Street opened around 10 a.m. That was good news for airboat tours since that's the only way to get to them. One owner told CBS News Miami that if the road was closed any longer, it would have caused problems for those with rides scheduled. FHP only allowed people through if they lived nearby or were working in the area. James Millings had planned to take his family visiting from Georgia on a fishing trip in the Florida Everglades. But his only way in was closed off. "Too bad," Millings said. "I was hoping to take back a whole cooler full of fish." Millings had to settle for fishing at a creek next to the blockade until the road opened. He stayed optimistic while waiting. "At least the smoke isn't coming this way because my wife has asthma," Millings said. Southwest 8th Street is open again, but fire rescue personnel are still urging people with respiratory problems to stay away. The fire happened near the Krome Detention Center for immigration and customs enforcement detainees. The agency said the fire didn't cause any evacuations.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Forest fires affecting visibility on roads near Ocala National Forest, FHP says
The Florida Forest Service is responding to forest fires in Putnam County. It's happening near State Road 19 and National Forest Road 74. FFS said one is the Bobcat Trail Fire and one is the Mondex Wildfire. The Florida Highway Patrol said, 'This may affect travel on SR 19 near the Ocala National forest throughout the day, night and into the morning hours.' FHP is reminding drivers to use caution, especially at night and in the early morning hours. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Crews battle more than a dozen fires across Tampa Bay area in the last several days
The Brief The Florida Forest Service said it responded to more than a dozen wildfires across parts of the Tampa Bay area over Memorial Day Weekend. Fire officials don't expect these recent fires to be the last during peak dry season, with June expected to be dryer than usual. Fire officials also warn that as the summer storms pick up, lightning strikes can smolder for a few days before sparking up a brush fire. LAKELAND, Fla. - The Florida Forest Service said it responded to more than a dozen wildfires across parts of the Tampa Bay area over Memorial Day Weekend. Fire officials said recent weather conditions have played a big role in recent fires. "The majority of the fires over the weekend we attribute to lightning," said Todd Chlanda, a wildfire mitigation specialist with the Florida Forest Service's Lakeland District. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube Big picture view Chlanda said they responded to 15 wildfires over the weekend. On Saturday, Hillsborough Couny Fire Rescue responded to a 400-acre brush fire in Alafia River State Park. On Sunday, a bush fire broke out near Balm Riverview Road in Hillsborough County. HCFR said it also responded to a brush fire that was about 10 acres in north Plant City on Monday afternoon. Fire crews said it broke out near Shoupe Road, west of SR-39. RELATED: Florida Forest Service expects busy summer as experts predict prolonged dry season Local perspective Residents in north Plant City spotted smoke near their home Monday afternoon. "One of my neighbors reached out and was like, 'Hey, the woods are on fire behind our houses,'" Trey Larson, the owner of Florida Game Recovery, said. Larson said his drone has a thermal camera and can track heat while flying over the area. "As the HCFR is rolling up, I'm watching it with the drone. I'm air dropping them pins of like bigger fires on that property, and while I was there, I looked up on the horizon and saw an even bigger fire on a property down the street," Larson said. READ: 3 arrested in S. Tampa DUI crash that severed man's leg: Police Larson said the drone can detect hotspots and give a bird's-eye view of the fire as it spreads. "In a fire situation, you can look into those woods and see every spot that is on fire, whereas on the ground, looking through all the bushes, it's really tough to see," Larson said. Dig deeper More agencies are looking to drone technology to help fight fires. The Florida Forest Service said it's in the beginning phase of adding drones to its program. "We have helicopters, and we have fixed wing planes that help us locate the fire, scout the fire and also help us put out the fire," Chlanda said. Chlanda said once their aviation units get on the scene of a fire, it's important to let their crews take over. He said the Florida Forest Service assists local agencies with a lot of these wildfires, because its equipment can help reach difficult areas some of these fires burn in. MORE: Tampa officials tout street resurfacing progress, discuss ways to further expand work "Where you see the fire departments, they're not going to really take a lot of their equipment off the paved road a lot, because they're just not built for that," Chlanda said. "Our dozers are built for going out in the woods, tracking through the forest, through brush and dragging the plow behind it to cut that fire line into the soil." What's next Fire officials don't expect these recent fires to be the last during peak dry season. Chlanda said June is expected to be dryer than usual. "Our pilots are in the air every day, scanning, monitoring for any kind of smoke columns that they see," Chlanda said. "So, I got a feeling that the next week or so is probably going to be busy for all of our resources." Fire officials also warn that as the summer storms pick up, lightning strikes can smolder for a few days before sparking up a brush fire. The Source The information in this story was gathered by FOX 13's Kylie Jones. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
