A wildfire is currently burning in the northwest corner of Big Cypress National Preserve. The Hilux Fire was reported on April 3 and was originally mapped at 250 acres. The fire, located north of Interstate-75 and east of State Road 29, near Bear Island Campground, is burning in pines and prairie with a moderate to high spread potential.
The Hilux Fire is the third wildfire reported in the park this year. In February, the Grand Fire and National Fire spread through the park due to persistent drought conditions and recent frost damage that created a highly receptive fuel bed. The National Fire, the bigger of the two, spread to over 35,000 acres.
The National Park Service says local ground and aviation crews are actively engaged in fire suppression activities for the Hilux Fire, and additional resources have been requested. Smoke impacts can be expected along SR 29, and on private lands and surrounding communities north of the preserve. No impacts are expected to Alligator Alcatraz, an immigration detention facility within the preserve.
Due to the location of the fire, the active fire behavior and weather conditions, fire managers have implemented an area closure for all areas north of I-75, west of Bundschu Grade, south of Big Cypress Boundary, and east of SR 29. This includes Bear Island, Gator Head, and Pink Jeep Campgrounds.
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