Wildfires in Big Cypress National Preserve are burning in a remote and rugged section of the preserve/NPS, Cory Dutton
Wildfires burning in remote areas of Big Cypress National Preserve were being blown here and there by westerly winds, spreading the flames across more than 30,000 acres of the park in southern Florida.
Just 17 percent of the Mud Lake Complex, which started May 8 with lightning strikes igniting the Ellison fire, had been contained through Thursday.
Gusty winds and dry conditions have contributed to fire growth. Due to the remote location of the fires, access for ground crews is difficult and firefighters have been primarily fighting the fires by dropping water on them from aircraft.
With nearly 350 personnel battling the complex, firefighters were confronted by fires that were spreading in all directions and making "short runs in pine stands and grass prairies, with flame lengths in 8-12 feet in palmetto," fire bosses reported.
"Tactical firing operations continued on the southwest side of the Ellison fire to secure private cabins, NPS structures, and Red-Cockaded Woodpecker habitat. The Square fire continues to show active fire behavior with backing, flanking and short runs with flame lengths of 6 feet in short grass fuels and 8-12 feet in palmetto," they added. "Burnout operations were conducted to protect private property."
Ground crews were being aided by six helicopters (2 large, 1 medium, 3 small), nine wildland fire engines, and six fixed-wing aircraft.
Along with a temporary flight restriction in the area, access to lands managed by Big Cypress National Preserve south of Interstate 75, from mile marker 59 to mile marker 75 (Turner River Road), and south to Upper Wagon Wheel Road was temporarily restricted as well. The closure also extended to lands administered by Big Cypress National Preserve north of Interstate 75, from mile marker 59 to mile marker 70, north to the Big Cypress Preserve Boundary.
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Comments
A flaming swamp . . . . . interesting.
Here's a link to an article from a Ft. Lauderdale paper: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/fl-big-cypress-smoke-20150521-s...