SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Crews are attempting to contain a challenging grass fire that sparked in West Miami-Dade and sent thick plumes of smoke into the South Florida sky.
Officials received a call about a blaze near Southwest 172nd Avenue, between Southwest 34th and Eighth streets, just before noon on Wednesday.
Multiple Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units were dispatched, including a hazmat team. The affected area is almost impossible for fire crews to reach by ground because of the thick woods around the area and the thickness of the brush fire.
Firefighters say they feel helpless because of the conditions as they battle the fire.
Despite this, they were able to reach about 1,000 feet away from the fire to try to put out the flames.
Florida Forest Service units are trying to fight the blaze through the air. They are calling it the Truck Stop Fire because one of the four corners of the fire has a truck stop called “Truck Wash,” near Southwest 177th Avenue and Eighth Street, and it is the only identifiable area that shows where the fire is.
FFS officials e called air rescue helicopters to survey the area several times throughout the day, but no order was issued to begin dropping buckets of water on the fire as they let the fire burn.
MDFR crews provided the water that FFS then took into the burning woods.
The brush fire is being fueled by the low humidity and dry conditions over the past few days.
The flames have scorched at least 125 acres as of Wednesday night.
7Skyforce captured the smoke as the shrubbery on the land burned in the inferno. Cameras also capturing what appears to be a car completely burned as a result of the fire.
Winds were coming from the southwest on Wednesday, so the smoke from the fire was blowing to the northwest into the Everglades.
Passer-by Derek Carratela, who was riding his motorcycle, told 7News that he rides in the area and has seen fires like this before.
“I live right around here. This usually happens from time to time. Fire rescue can never get to the fire in time,” he said. “It’s usually over there, it’s usually nothing too crazy, but fires have spread. I just saw a helicopter about two hours ago.”
In a statement posted on social media Wednesday night, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said, “MDFR & @FLForestService have been working to contain a grass fire near the 15600 block of SW 31st Lane. Due to smoky conditions, those in the area with respiratory problems are advised to stay indoors, keep windows/doors closed & run your a/c by recirculating the air inside your home.”
While no water was dropped from the air on Wednesday, fire crews tell 7News that their ground operation is working.
As of Thursday morning, the fire was 50% contained.
No neighborhoods or structures have been affected.
Officials said no injuries have been reported.
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