Smoke from two uncontained brush fires in the Florida Everglades, including the 1,600-acre Mile Marker 39 blaze, is drifting eastward into Fort Lauderdale and western Broward County, prompting visibility warnings for morning drivers and residents.
Why It Matters
The fires, though far inland, are impacting heavily populated areas in South Florida. With no containment and dry conditions persisting, the situation highlights the vulnerability of Everglades-adjacent communities to fast-moving environmental hazards.
Beyond visibility issues, the smoke poses respiratory risks, especially for vulnerable populations. The incident also raises questions about fire preparedness and response capacity in Florida’s unique wetland ecosystems.
What To Know
Smoke from two uncontained brush fires in the Florida Everglades drifted over Fort Lauderdale and western Broward County early Wednesday, prompting visibility warnings and air quality concerns. The rapidly growing Mile Marker 39 blaze had scorched more than 1,600 acres by Tuesday afternoon, according to the Florida Forest Service, while the nearby Sawgrass Fire had burned approximately 250 acres.
Both fires remained 0 percent contained as of Wednesday morning…