An active wildfire in the Everglades, west of Broward County, has consumed 3,600 acres this Friday, with authorities unable to achieve any level of containment, according to the Florida Forest Service.
The flames, visible from U.S. 27 north of Weston, spread through an area of dense brush and sawgrass - a type of highly flammable grass - located about 10 miles north of Interstate 75, known as Alligator Alley.
According to NBC Miami, the fire currently does not pose a threat to nearby homes or residential communities.
Without containment and with smoke as the main threat
The Florida Forest Service confirmed that the fire is at 0% containment according to the latest available update from Thursday evening.
Ground crews and air support are working to tackle the hard-to-reach hot spots in operations that continue uninterrupted.
The smoke is, for now, the main concern for the residents of the area.
“The light winds on Friday morning are keeping the smoke contained in the area, but their direction later in the day will determine where residents will see hazy skies,” authorities warned.
Meteorologists are closely monitoring wind patterns, which will dictate how the smoke column will move throughout the afternoon and evening over communities such as Weston, Pembroke Pines, Cooper City, and Plantation.
The rain, a hope for the firefighters
"The rain forecasted for the afternoon could assist in the firefighting efforts," local authorities stated, although the forecast does not ensure enough precipitation to control the spread of the flames.
Health authorities recommend that vulnerable groups—people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, heart conditions, children, and the elderly—stay indoors with windows closed and the air conditioning set to recirculation mode if smoke intensifies in their area.
Drivers traveling on roads near the Everglades should take extra caution due to possible reduced visibility from smoke.
A catastrophic year for Florida
This fire adds to a series of disasters that have turned 2026 into one of the most severe fire seasons in decades for South Florida.
A historic drought lasting over 18 consecutive months —exacerbated by the La Niña phenomenon and the absence of tropical cyclones in 2025— left 99% of the state in drought conditions at their most critical point, with 85% of the territory experiencing severe drought or worse.
Among the most destructive fires of the year in the region are:
- the Quarry 2, which consumed up to 15,900 acres in northwest Miami-Dade in June.
- the Atlantic fire, caused by lightning in western Broward, which exceeded 5,000 acres.
- the Max Road Fire, with 5,650 acres in the Everglades in May.
- the Highway 41 Fire, covering over 6,500 acres in the northeast of Everglades National Park in April.
In that same month of April, there were reported over 100 active wildfires simultaneously across the state of Florida.
Authorities are keeping the fire under constant surveillance and will update information as the situation evolves throughout the day.
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