FLORIDA — A rapidly intensifying wildfire in the Everglades has exploded to approximately 25,000 acres in Big Cypress National Preserve and remains 0% contained, with smoke spreading more than 100 miles across South Florida and into the Florida Keys.
The blaze, identified as the National Fire, is burning south of Interstate 75 (Alligator Alley) near Ochopee, roughly 11 miles east of Naples. Fueled by dry, windy conditions and ongoing extreme drought, the fire has grown quickly overnight, prompting widespread smoke impacts and travel concerns across the region.
Smoke Stretching Across South Florida
Satellite imagery shows a massive smoke plume stretching south and east from Big Cypress, pushing across Southwest Florida, over the Florida Keys, and visible far beyond the immediate fire zone.
Heavy smoke has been reported along Alligator Alley, a major travel route connecting Naples to the east coast of Florida. Visibility concerns are mounting for drivers along both I-75 and US-41, where sudden drops in visibility are possible…