Wildfires and Climate Conditions

Wildfire crews in South Florida are battling a blaze in Big Cypress National Preserve that has burned more than 25,000 acres as of Wednesday, sending smoke across Interstate 75’s Alligator Alley and causing intermittent lane closures between the state’s east and west coasts. Florida emergency officials say the fire, which follows a strong cold front that brought dry air and red‑flag conditions, is burning roughly 20 miles west of the state‑run 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration detention facility and is currently moving in the opposite direction, with increased humidity helping containment. The Department of Emergency Management says it is in regular contact with local and state fire crews and would receive 24‑hour notice if an evacuation of the jail became necessary, adding that evacuation procedures for detainees have been rehearsed. Forecasters with the National Weather Service in Miami warn that, despite some moderation in humidity, persistent drought, dry soils and winds mean South Florida remains highly vulnerable to additional wildfires with little rain in the short‑term forecast.