Some traffic closures remain in effect as Miami-Dade brush fires scorch about 20K acres

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — Some traffic closures remained in effect Saturday as brush fires scorched about 20,000 acres in west Miami-Dade.

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Local 10’s Jolena Esperto was on Krome Avenue Saturday morning as the roadway was shut down at U.S. 27.

The fire dubbed “Quarry 2,” east of Krome Avenue, has been the most widespread, burning 17,600 acres so far. It is 97% contained.

On Friday, officials closed Krome Avenue between Okeechobee Road and Southwest Eighth Street due to the blaze.

A separate brush fire near Medley has burned 1,425 acres and is 60 percent contained.

On Friday, officials closed the southbound lanes of Florida’s Turnpike from Okeechobee Road to Northwest 41st Street.

State troopers also closed Southwest Eighth Street, also known as the Tamiami Trail, from Krome Avenue to State Road 29 in Collier County.

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Ash from the brush fires drifted for miles during the week.

Patrick Mahoney, with the Florida Forest Service, said the weather hasn’t helped.

“Heat and wind has been an issue, but also the drought,” he said. “I mean, it’s still very dry through here.”

Bad conditions led to crews across several agencies working around the clock to stop the blaze from spreading from above. Helicopters dumped buckets of water on the inferno.

“Our firefighters are doing a great job,” Mahoney said. “This is what we train for. This is what we do.”

On Thursday, a firefighter with the FFS was rushed to an area hospital after a heat-related episode, but he’s expected to be OK.

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