Rain Helps Contain SW Miami-Dade Brush Fire
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Thursday night's downpours helped contain a brush fire that was encroaching on Southwest Miami-Dade homes and businesses.
It was a stubborn fire, but in the world of the Pinelands, it's part of a natural cycle.
The fire actually helps the Pinelands by providing nutrients, spreading seeds and increasing regeneration.
Miami-Dade County manages the area which is one of the few remaining patches of Dade Pine Rockland that has not been paved over or built upon.
The fire, was in the area of Goulds right across the street from Cawley Square, made its way toward businesses that front US 1.
"Smoke OK because it is out of my way. I live back that way, it blows back that way to the highway," Herman Bell said.
Cawley Square is not in danger, but for the owner of a used car dealership, it was a close call and firefighters from Miami-Dade County certainly saved his day.
"The biggest concern was business on the west side of this protected land. Wind was shifting in that direction. We set up a permitted and controlled the fire," said Felipe Lay with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.
A total of 70 acres have been burned. We are told that the fire is 80 percent contained thanks to the rain.
Folks to the west of the fire that have breathing issue should stay inside.
It's not known what sparked the fire, but we're told it originated on private property.
