Amidst what’s normally a typical evening rush hour, a grassfire slowed traffic on the Florida Turnpike even more. Last Wednesday, before approaching exit 9 on the northbound lanes, the blaze crept close between SW 112th Avenue and SW 256th Street, veering nearer to the parkway while drivers rubbernecked to spy the spectacle.
Thankfully, the April 24th fire was extinguished before any serious injuries to people or property took place, according to the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) Facebook page. “Fire crews arrived and immediately began to conduct a fire attack to protect nearby roadways and residential structures in the area. Air Rescue was dispatched to conduct water drops using a bucket to aid in extinguishing the flames. MDFR units continued working with the Florida Forest Service to bring the fire under control.”
Despite a welcome Tuesday rainy downpour on the afternoon and evening before the event – after several weeks without precipitation – residents are reminded that we are in wildfire season, as it runs from mid-April into July, according to the University of Florida’s (UF) website on fire and habitat.
For more information on wildfire season and safety, visit the UF website at https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/archive/hot_topics/ environment/fire_ habitat.shtml. Video of the fire rescue is also available on the MDFR Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MiamiDadeFireRescue/. The season demands heightened awareness, cooperation, and preparedness from all stakeholders, underscoring the importance of proactive measures in safeguarding lives and landscapes against the ravages of wildfire.
