battling the fire since Monday afternoon<\/a>, officials say it only continues to grow, now burning more than 8,600 acres.<\/p>\n7Skyforce hovered above the scene where smoke could be seen towering over the skyline above West Miami-Dade.<\/p>\n
Officials said the \u201cHighway 41 Fire\u201d erupted just south of the Tamiami Trail, Monday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Thursday morning, first responders were seen staging at Everglades Safari Park, as they prepared for yet another day of battling this blaze.<\/p>\n
What began as about 450 acres being torched has now spread across thousands of acres of land, wreaking havoc for wildlife and locals.<\/p>\n
\u201cBrush fires can spread quickly, specially in the right conditions like those we are seeing today,\u201d said MDFR spokesperson Erika Benitez.<\/p>\n
Bert, who works for Tigertail Airboat Tours, said something as simple as a shift of wind in the direction of residents and major roadways could dramatically alter people\u2019s ability to navigate the area.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the wind changes, you know, that could close down this whole road, which, you know, there\u2019s two major arteries that go across the Glades, so that\u2019s a few hours to get back around,\u201d said Bert.<\/p>\n
Meteorologists forecast that the winds will be veering out of the south and southwest on Thursday, potentially increasing smoky conditions in more heaviily populated areas east of the blaze.<\/p>\n
Bert added that the fire poses a danger to more than just the nearest businesses and residents.<\/p>\n
\u201cEither way, if you\u2019re in Florida, South Florida, you\u2019re getting your drinking water from under the Everglades. So no matter what, this place is important to everybody,\u201d said Bert. \u201cThere\u2019s only one of these in the world, there\u2019s only one place that works this way. So many of us call it home, so many animals, way more animals call it home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Crews tackled the fire from the ground and the sky, battling the flames from every angle. On Wednesday, they focused their efforts on aviation, since the location of the fire is difficult to access.<\/p>\n
7News cameras captured some crews dousing flames with several gallons of water.<\/p>\n
With crews working nonstop, officials say the brush fire is now 20% contained as of Thursday morning.<\/p>\n
While there\u2019s currently no immediate threat to homes, authorities advise residents to avoid any of the areas impacted by the fire.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also ask that you try to stay away from the area of the fire, because conditions can change quickly, leading to possible road delays and even road closures,\u201d said MDFR spokesperson Erika Benitez.<\/p>\n
Benitez added that even for residents far from the fire, a simple change of direction in the wind could cause harmful breathing conditions outdoors.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven if the fire is not immediately near your home, smoke can travel for miles, impacting air quality,\u201d said Benitez.<\/p>\n
Officials said there\u2019s been no injuries reported or threat to nearby structures.<\/p>\n
Authorities said they expect the fire fight to continue over the next several days, primarily through aerial operations. They said crews have made considerable progress between Wednesday and Thursday mornings.<\/p>\n
Copyright 2026 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.<\/p>\n
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