Everglades fire in northwest Broward reaches nearly 6,000 acres, 50% contained

The Atlantic Fire sparked in the Everglades and visible to Broward County commuters has grown to nearly 6,000 acres.

The latest data from the Florida Forest Service shows the conflagration had burned 5,780 acres and was 50% contained as of 11:25 a.m. on Tuesday, June 30. On Monday, the flames doubled in size over about eight hours.

Lightning sparked the initial fire over the weekend just west of Tamarac near Commercial Boulevard.

“In terms of smoke impacts to roads there are none at the moment,” said Michelle Danielson with the Florida Forest Service. “In terms of fire activity, it’s pretty low right now. That could change as the day gets hotter and the moisture off the ground heats up.”

Traffic cameras from Florida 511 don’t reveal much smoke, as winds were low midday Tuesday.

There are no structures at risk as of midday Tuesday, and while smoke remains low, so does the health risk. According to the Broward County’s Natural Resource Division, the particulate matter forecast is good early in the day and is forecast to become moderate later between the fire and the Saharan dust.

“Monitoring has been using engines that carry water, the brush trucks. They’re going around monitoring with that and the drone usage, getting aerial imagery and using that for any potential tactical options,” Danielson said.

The soft ground and water of the conservation area makes it hard to bring in big equipment, she added.

“They’re doing visual monitoring, mapping and using all the planning and tactical operations available,” Danielson said.