SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Firefighters are working to extinguish a fire that broke out at a Southwest Miami-Dade landfill.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews responded to the scene along Southwest 97th Avenue and 240th Street just after 7 a.m., Thursday.
Responding firefighters located a heavy fire coming from a mound of trash.
“Just after seven o’clock, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue received reports of the South Dade landfill burning,” Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Lt. Kirsten Miller said. “When our units arrived, they found heavy fire and smoke coming from the northwest corner of the landfill.”
Officials said air rescue crews responded to the scene to help extinguish the flames in areas inaccessible by firefighters on the ground. Strong winds are making it difficult for crews to put out the fire.
Cellphone video taken by a witness showed heavy smoke coming from the scene.
7News cameras captured a helicopter filling a bucket full of water and dumping it on top of the blaze in an effort to extinguish it.
“We are fighting the fire with our air rescue unit,” Miller said. “They’re using what’s called a Bambi bucket, pulling water from the canal and dumping it on the fire. We also have several aerial apparatus that are working to attack the fire.”
MDFR officials said up to one acre of trash was burned.
No injuries have been reported.
Although the fire is not near a residential neighborhood, officials are urging residents to keep their windows and doors closed and air conditioner units recirculating the air inside until conditions improve.
“If you do live to the west and are in the smoke and have respiratory problems, you may want to leave the area or stay inside,” Miller said.
Those who have asthma or another lung disease are urged to follow their healthcare provider’s directions.
The cause of the fire remains unknown.
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