200 people leave their homes as growing fires menace West Miami-Dade

Growing brush fires in West Miami-Dade led to hundreds of people leaving their homes on Wednesday as flames scorched 14,000 acres, shut down roads and sent smoke into the sky.

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More than 200 people voluntarily left their trailer park as brush fires continued to burn through nearly 14,000 acres over the past four days, authorities said. The fallout from the fires sent smoke, soot and ash into their community.

“The evacuation was for the sanctity of life,” Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Assistant Sheriff Fernand Charles said during a news conference at Krome Avenue and Okeechobee Road. “The majority of the homeowners heeded our recommendations, and they were taken to a fairground.”

Other residents chose to stay, Charles said. Some firefighters and deputies are remaining with them to monitor conditions in the neighborhood.

The fire began as a single blaze that sparked Sunday during thunderstorms in the grassy flats near Krome Avenue, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Raied “Ray” Jadallah said. The Florida Forest Service initially handled the situation and MDFR joined the crews on Monday.

By then, the one fire became two, named Quarry 2 and Well. Together, just under 14,000 acres had burned as of Wednesday afternoon.

Fighting the fires

The Quarry 2 Fire, near Northwest 137th Avenue and 41st Street, west of Doral, was around 30% contained as of Wednesday afternoon. The smaller Well Fire, burning near Northwest 122nd Avenue and 58th Street, was at 25% containment. The fires continue to move north and have extended to about three quarters of a mile wild, authorities said.

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Over 100 firefighters are battling the blazes, along with help from the National Guard and other law enforcement agencies. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue firefighters are rotating in and out every few hours from over 70 fire stations across Miami-Dade County.

The Florida Forest Service is also conducting “back burns,” which remove vegetation that could be used as fuel by the wildfires, Jadallah said.

Jadallah said there hasn’t been a spike in Miami-Dade residents reporting respiratory issues from the fire, but he is still strongly recommending those who live near ground zero to stay inside.

Road shutdowns

Drivers can expect road closings due to the fires near the Everglades.

Krome Avenue is closed between Southwest Eighth Street and Okeechobee Road, authorities said.

And no traffic can travel south on U.S. Highway 27 past Pines Boulevard. Travelers are being asked to avoid the area.

Miami Herald staff writers Milena Malaver and Sofia Saric contributed to this report.

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