Miami-Dade County update: Brush Fire in Southeast Miami-Dade
Miami-Dade County, alongside local and state partner agencies, continues working around the clock as part of a coordinated response to the brush fire in southeast Miami-Dade. Under the leadership of Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Chief Public Safety Officer James Reyes, the Department of Emergency Mangement (DEM) and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) have been working in coordination with Florida Forestry Service, Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Department of Emergency Management, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Homestead Police Department, Florida Power & Light, among others to respond to and contain the fire. Miami-Dade County’s Emergency Operations Center has been upgraded to Level 2 partial activation with key partners involved.
First responders are battling the fire with all available resources, deploying five helicopters from Florida Forestry and MDFR and an additional support plane from Tennessee. In addition, Miami-Dade’s Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources (RER) has been monitoring air quality and advising residents in the area to monitor the air online.
“I am thankful for our heroic first responders who are working around the clock to contain the fires and ensure the safety of our residents and commuters on the road, and to all state and local agencies for the close coordination on our response efforts,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “We continue to advise our residents that live or commute close to the area, especially those with respiratory conditions, to take precautions and limit exposure.”
As of Friday afternoon, Card Sound Road remains partially closed and, due to shifting wind conditions and fire operations, US-1 may experience intermittent closures as crews assess and respond to fire activity. For real-time traffic conditions, visit FL511.com and follow Miami Dade Sheriff Office at @MiamiDade_SO on X and Instagram @miamidadesheriffsoffice.
Residents are urged to stay informed through official channels and to avoid unnecessary travel in the impacted area. Fire conditions can change rapidly, and road closures are implemented to ensure the safety of both the public and the emergency responders on the ground.
Residents and commuters are advised to follow these safety tips:
- 911 is for emergencies only. Please do not call for road closure or fire updates.
- Avoid the area if possible. Fire conditions can change rapidly, and road closures are in place for your safety.
- Do not drive in smoke-filled areas. Visibility can drop quickly, making conditions dangerous. If you must drive, keep windows up and set your car’s air circulation to “recirculate” to prevent smoke from entering your vehicle.
- Protect yourself from smoke exposure. Stay indoors if you have respiratory conditions such as asthma, and keep windows and doors closed.
- Bring pets inside. If smoke is in the area, animals can experience respiratory distress just like humans.
- Follow evacuation orders if issued. Be prepared to leave if conditions worsen and authorities direct you to do so.
- Keep drones away from wildfires. If a drone is spotted near a wildfire, all firefighting aircraft must be grounded, delaying critical air support and impacting containment efforts. Help us keep the skies safe—please do not fly drones near wildfires!
We thank our firefighters and law enforcement officers for their tireless efforts in protecting our community. Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and follow official updates for the latest information.
