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Moon Fish Fire In Big Cypress National Preserve 10 Percent Contained

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Published Date

May 11, 2020
The Moon Fish fire in Big Cypress National Preserve was holding at 27,037 acres/NPS

The Moon Fish fire in Big Cypress National Preserve was holding at 27,037 acres/NPS

Light rain and "burn out" operations used to deprive the Moon Fish fire of fuels in key areas helped firefighters keep the blaze in Big Cypress National Preserve from growing its footprint, though only 10 percent of the fire had been contained.

The fire, which started May 7 from a truck fire, was burning across 27,000 acres in the preserve's southeastern corner. Though an edge of the fire had crept into adjoining Everglades National Park, fire bosses said crews worked Sunday to use burn out operations, in which fuels are burned within a control line to widen it or consume fuel between the edge of the fire and the control line, to blunt its move into Everglades. The work also served to protect the Miccosukee Reserved Area community from the fire.

Light rain fell on the fire Sunday, but officials said vegetation in the 729,000-acre preserve remains extremely dry. The blaze was burning through sawgrass, cypress, and hardwood fuels.

The Loop Road in Big Cypress remained closed to tourists on both ends, with only firefighters and local residents allowed to use it, and there was potential that smoke could close U.S. 41, the Tamiami Trail, at times. Winds also could blow both the smell of the fire and smoke into the greater Miami area, a preserve release said.

Fire suppression actions will continue with aerial and ground resources as weather permits, the release added.

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