Forestry Workers Trying To Contain Everglades Brush Fire
FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - State forestry workers are trying to get a handle on a brush fire burning north of I-75 and a west os U.S. 27 in the Everglades.
"There's a lot of burnable fuel out there, it just spread, meandered through these Everglades," said Scott Peterich with forestry service. "It's hard to get around it. Our objective is to keep it confined to that area so as it burns, we just don't want it to get out. "
The fire has been burning since Saturday. It's believed it was started by a lightning strike.
As of Tuesday at around noon they had 70-percent of the 27,000 or so acre fire contained.
On Monday the smoke greatly limited visibility on U.S. 27 that the Florida Highway Patrol was forced to close it to traffic from I-75 in Broward to Southern Boulevard in Palm Beach County.
"It was for drivers safety," said FHP spokesman Sgt. Mark Wysocky, "When you mix smoke and fog it could be a very dangerous situation.
Watch Summer Knowles report on efforts to contain the fire.
Smoke and ash from the fire spread from western Palm Beach to south Miami-Dade.
"It was very smoky and hazy," said Charles Ponz, "You could hardly see and there were little particles on the cars."
The smoky skies also backed up cruise ships at PortMiami, low visibility left them floating out at sea until conditions cleared.
By early afternoon much of the smoke had cleared.
The FHP is monitoring the progress of the fire and could close U.S. 27 again Tuesday if the smoke severely limits visibility.
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