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An active wildfire in southern Florida has raised alarms this Tuesday, as emergency teams work against the clock to prevent the flames from reaching one of the state's main highways, US-27, in Broward County.
Aerial images shared by Telemundo 51 reveal the magnitude of the fire spreading across areas of the Everglades, an ecosystem already affected by one of the worst droughts in over a decade. From the air, a helicopter from the fire department is making constant maneuvers: descending over nearby canals, collecting water, and dropping it on the fire in an attempt to contain its spread to the west.
The Florida Forest Service confirmed that at least 100 acres have been affected in this phase of the disaster, although more recent reports raise the figure to around 2,000 acres devastated. On the ground, specialized crews are moving in all-terrain vehicles adapted to operate under extreme conditions, amidst strong winds that complicate their efforts.
“Fortunately, the wind is pushing the fire away from the road,” forest authorities explained to Local 10, although they acknowledge that the situation remains unstable due to the weather conditions.
So far, there have been no reports of road closures or casualties, but the proximity of the fire to US-27 has kept drivers and residents of nearby areas like Weston on high alert.
The context exacerbates the concern: Florida is experiencing what is considered a historic drought, which has increased the frequency and intensity of wildfires in recent weeks. Experts warn that there could still be several critical weeks ahead.
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