WEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - A brush fire burned well into the night in West Miami-Dade and officials say it is now 80% contained.
Drone video captured the flames, which have scorched more than 100 acres in a wooded area near Southwest 137th Avenue and Eighth Street.
“We see the smoke, and I’m just wondering, when is it going to stop?” said Darmis Sued, who lives nearby.
Around 4 p.m., Tuesday, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and Florida Forest Service crews began working to contain the fire. They returned for a second consecutive day of dousing the flames, Wednesday.
“It’s pretty scary that I live just a couple of blocks off here,” said Sued.
“I can see south of it that I still see a lot of white smoke,” said property owner Javier Colon. “There wasn’t any deep billowing smoke like this. This just popped up, but it’s a bit concerning.”
Colon owns 300 acres just north of the blaze and is taking matters into his own hands to stop the spread from getting to his property.
“We’re gonna go out there with a bunch of mowers and we’re gonna cut, probably, about 300-foot wide path through a lot of thick grass, and mow it all the way to the ground,” he said. “That way, none of that brush can then catch on fire, and then spread on.”
The large plume of smoke was seen billowing into the sky from miles away.
Throughout the day on Tuesday, a fire rescue helicopter was seen dumping water on the fire.
At around 10 a.m. on Wednesday, more heavy black smoke could be seen billowing from the scene.
David Rosenbaum with the Florida Forest Service said the wind and dry conditions have made things difficult for crews.
“The grasses, the trees, the shrubs — extremely dry,” said Rosenbaum.
Experts in Tallahassee said the state is heading into the peak of brush fire season.
“Rainfall is going to be pretty limited,” said forest fire meteorologist at Florida Forest Service, Bryan Williams. “April, May are, typically, two of the driest months for the state of Florida. It’s short lived, of course, because the rain season starts in June.”
He said, thankfully, there are no buildings or homes in danger at this time.
“We have no issues right now with the public being threatened,” said Rosenbaum.
This is an area that has had issues in the past, but some who live nearby said this has been the scariest fire so far.
“This is, like, the first time that I see it closer to home,” said Sued.
Crews have been in the area for several hours to make sure all those hot spots are put out.
As of 12:10 a.m., the Florida Forestry Service said the fire is 80% contained.
Those who live near wooded areas are advised to stay away from anything that may cause a fire, trimming brush and not starting any outdoor fires.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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