Brush fire at Big Cypress National Preserve reaches grim milestone, surpasses 10,000 acres

Tomas Rodriguez, Naples Daily News
·3 min read

A growing brush fire in Collier County has reached the grim milestone of 10,000 acres as firefighters start to succeed in battling the flames.

Erika Hoopes, spokesperson for the Big Cypress National Preserve, said the blaze reached just more than 10,000 acres by Monday night. The fire began May 1.

Hoopes added that containment was at 5% late Monday.

Prior: Officials continue to battle flames as blaze at Big Cypress National Preserve grows

One month ago: Wildfire at Big Cypress National Preserve extends to nearly 7,000 acres, officials say

She said there are several properties in the area, but none have been impacted by the flames as of Tuesday morning.

On Sunday, authorities began phase one of the evacuation plan, which is notifying residents within the zone of the potential for evacuation in the coming days.

Hoopes has said the weather conditions are "extremely dry".

Will Redman, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Miami, said temperatures will be "abnormally hot" Tuesday and Wednesday.

Redman said the humidity values are going to be lower.

"In general, things are going to be favorable for the fire growth, but we should see an increase in moisture in the next couple of days, and then that's going to go down," Redman said. "So really, it's like survive another day or two, and then things should be fine."

Redman said fires of this magnitude are unusual for this time of year as the wet season looms.

The smoke could impact U.S. 41 in the coming days, Hoopes warned. By Tuesday morning, Lt. Greg Bueno, spokesperson for the Florida Highway Patrol, warned of low visibility between mile markers 58 and 66 along U.S. 41.

Troopers recommend:

  • DRIVE WITH LIGHTS on low beam. High beams will only reflect off the fog and impair visibility even more. Your lights help other drivers see your vehicle, so be sure they all work. Keep your windshield and headlights clean, to reduce the glare and increase visibility.

  • SLOW DOWN and watch your speedometer before you enter a patch of fog or smoke

  • WATCH for slow-moving and parked vehicles. Open your window a little and listen for traffic you cannot see.

  • REDUCE THE DISTRACTIONS in your vehicle. Turn off the radio and cell phone.

  • USE WIPERS AND DEFROSTERS liberally for maximum visibility.

  • USE THE RIGHT EDGE of the road or painted road markings as a guide.

  • BE PATIENT and avoid passing and/or changing lanes.

  • SIGNAL TURNS well in advance and brake early as you approach a stop.

  • DO NOT STOP on a freeway or heavily traveled road. You could become the first link in a chain-reaction collision. If you must pull off the road, signal, then carefully pull off as far as possible and turn your hazard lights on.

It's the second brush fire of over 6,000 acres to affect the national park in the last month.

After nearly three days, a brush fire off Interstate 75 grew to nearly 7,000 acres at Big Cypress National Preserve, leading authorities to caution motorists along Alligator Alley.

That blaze extended about 6,692 acres and took about a week to contain.

Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Twitter @TomasFRoBeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Collier County wildfire grows to more than 10,000 acres