Firefighters are working to extinguish a fire that’s burning in a wooded area in western Miami-Dade County in Florida. Authorities say the blaze quickly spread to 400 acres in a mostly undeveloped section of the county.
The wildfire started just north of the Tamiami Trail near Southwest 147th Avenue and was driven west by winds of 18 to 23 mph, with gusts to 30 mph according to the National Weather Service.
“These winds are pushing this fire by leaps and bounds — 30, 40, 50 yards at a time.’’
— Miami-Dade Capt. Louie Fernandez
Firefighters were working hard to prevent the fire from igniting dead and dry melaleuca trees, which would send a stream of embers capable of igniting more fires at a distance.
Wildfires are possible all year in Florida, but more common during the dry season of February, March and April.
Firefighters were also battling a wildfire in north Brevard and south Volusia counties that covered more than 17,500 acres by Thursday morning. In St. Johns County, a wildfire contained by Thursday burned about 1,100 acres.
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Miami Herald Crews battle Tamiami Trail blaze