MIAMI - A raging brush fire once again forced the temporary closure of Florida's busy 18-Mile Stretch that provides the main link to the Florida Keys. It's the third straight day the main road has been shut down, creating a renewed headache for traffic attempting to get to or from the islands.

The fire has been burning in the southern Miami-Dade County area near the highway and ballooned to 24,000 acres on Thursday while only remaining 30% contained, according to the Florida Forest Service.

Nearly the entire eastern half of the Florida Peninsula was on alert for wildfires Thursday, prompting officials to urge residents once again to avoid outdoor burning.

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A video shared by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue shows crews driving through the flames and smoke during the emergency response, as well as helicopters battling the fire from above.

Officials had warned residents in the region that smoke could drift into neighborhoods, leading to air quality issues.

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"It's also spring break for many people across the country," FOX Weather Meteorologist Craig Herrera said. "And many people go to this part of the country for spring break. So, whether you live there or you're visiting, you know that this is a concern (Thursday)."

The 18-Mile Stretch was only closed for less than an hour on Wednesday but faced a several-hour closure on Tuesday.

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued an elevated or critical wildfire risk on most of the eastern half of the Florida Peninsula, including millions of people from Orlando to Melbourne and southward through West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami.

In tandem, Fire Weather Warnings are in effect for several counties along Florida's east coast from the Daytona Beach area south along Interstate 95 into Miami.

The FOX Forecast Center said a cold front associated with a powerful storm that brought blizzard conditions to the Plains and severe weather to the Midwest and Great Lakes on Wednesday produced strong winds and low relative humidity ahead of the frontal boundary.

The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) today welcomed Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner dropping his unconstitutional proposal to evict O Cinema as a reprisal after his initial failed attempt to censor them from showing the Oscar-winning Palestinian documentary No Other Land.

O Cinema, an arthouse theatre, showed the documentary after having initially pulled it due to a letter denouncing the film sent by Mayor Steven Meier. Meier announced a proposal to terminate the cinema’s lease and discontinue around $40,000 in grant funding on Tuesday.

SEE: Florida Theater Faces Closure for Showing Palestinian Film ‘No Other Land’ – Newsweek

Miami Herald reported earlier today that Mayor Meiner’s “… decision came after five of Meiner’s colleagues said they would oppose the eviction proposal, which also called for pulling city grant funding to the theater.”

SEE: Miami Beach mayor drops proposal to evict O Cinema for screening ‘No Other Land’

In a statement, CAIR-Florida Executive Director Imam Abdullah Jaber said:

“Public pressure works. CAIR, CAIR-Florida, and the ACLU—among others—applied public pressure on Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner to drop his failed proposal to censor our cherished First Amendment right to freedom of speech, which protects artistic expression. He first attempted to censor the screening of No Other Land and later tried to terminate the lease and evict O Cinema. We welcome Mayor Meiner’s failure on both attempts.”

Imam Jaber added: “Our organization remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding our community’s rights and will remain vigilant against the aggression and apparent pattern of discrimination that Mayor Meiner repeatedly exhibits in targeting Arab and Palestinian residents, business owners, and visitors.”

About CAIR-Florida:

CAIR-Florida is the state’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, foster dialogue, safeguard civil liberties for all, empower American Muslims, and form coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

La misión de CAIR-Florida es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.

END

CONTACT: CAIR-Florida Communications Director Wilfredo Amr Ruiz, 305-502-6749, wruiz@cair.com; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com ; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com ; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com ; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com

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Editor’s Note: This is a Thursday evening update (5:23 p.m.). This story is developing and will be updated as more information comes in.

For the third straight day, crews are battling a massive wildfire in neighboring southeast Miami-Dade County. Card Sound Road remains closed as crews tackle the flames. The 18-Mile Stretch was expected to reopen to vehicles just after 5 p.m. Thursday, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

An alert by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office earlier in the morning stated the Stretch was closed in both directions as crews confronted the flames.

The Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson and Florida Forest Service said in a press release that the fire is 24,000 acres and 30% contained. The Florida Fire Service currently has 27 personnel on scene, along with multiple engines, tractors, three helicopters and two fixed-wing airplanes. FFS strike teams from north and central Florida were also deployed to the wildfire.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue has deployed multiple units and resources, including water tender trucks to provide extra water supply, and Air Rescue teams are conducting water drops in areas inaccessible to ground crews. MDFR Air Rescue’s aerial firefighting missions involves deploying Bambi Buckets to release water into the areas impacted by the fire.

Monroe County Emergency Services said Trauma Star is continuing to operate for critical transports without issue.

The Monroe County Tax Collector said the Key Largo office will be closed Friday due to a staffing shortage as a result of the wildfires shutting the main thoroughfares into the Keys.

The Key Largo Chamber of Commerce said Thursday afternoon that they’ve been receiving many calls from visitors seeking accommodation’s for the night due to the road closures. Several restaurants said they’re operating with limited staff. Old Tavernier Restaurant announced they were closed Thursday due to the wildfires.

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for most of south and central Florida due to strong winds and low humidity — wildfires can spread fast in these conditions.

Traffic in and out of the Florida Keys was shut down for nearly five hours on Tuesday as a brush fire burned in southeast Miami-Dade County near the 18-Mile Stretch and Card Sound Road. Traffic had reopened on the Stretch on Tuesday evening, but Card Sound Road remained shut down.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and the Florida Fire Service arrived at the scene of a rapidly-spreading blaze just before 5 p.m. on Tuesday. With tankers and air support dropping water, crews battled the ferocious flames well into the evening. Card Sound Road was the first to close, and not long after that, the 18-Mile Stretch was shut down with the emergence of flames and heavy smoke. Dry weather and winds aided the fire’s ability to spread.

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With closures lasting hours into Tuesday evening, Key Largo and Florida City turned into a massive parking lot as cars were unable to traverse the two main thoroughfares in and out of the Keys. In Key Largo, store and business parking lots were filled as motorists waited it out. The Winn Dixie parking lot at MM 105.3 filled up as people could be seen walking their dogs, eating and camping out, said Key Largo resident Emilie Caldwell Stewart.

On U.S. 1, vehicles were stacked northbound as far back as MM 99.

Traffic on the Stretch was eventually reopened around 9 p.m. on Tuesday evening, although the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office advised motorists to avoid traveling if possible due to the smoke. The Stretch was closed for period of time on Wednesday due as crews battle flames.

Smells of smoke from the blaze in Miami-Dade went as far south as Islamorada on Wednesday and Thursday morning. Residents and motorists as far south as Plantation Key in Islamorada experienced some hazy conditions on Thursday morning.

The fires began last week as dry and wind conditions worsened the situation. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known, although the National Weather Service issued fire warnings earlier in the week for most of Miami-Dade, with little to no rain failing in recent weeks and lower humidity levels. The warning wasn’t active at the time of the blaze, although conditions appeared ripe for increased risk of brush fires.

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The National Weather Service in Miami said Wednesday that relative humidity values will be dropping as low as 30% with gusty southwesterly winds. With most of South Florida under drought conditions, the weather service said this will lead to critical fire concerns Thursday afternoon.

“Any fires that develop could spread rapidly,” the National Weather Service said.

No injuries to persons or threats to buildings have been reported.

A couple returning from a trip to the Florida Keys barely escaped the large brush fire burning in Southwest Miami-Dade.

Kathy and Richard Williams were driving back to Deerfield Beach after a daytrip to Islamorada, but they never imagined they'd be the last car out of U.S. 1.

According to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, fire units and air rescue responded after a call came in for the grass fire at 1:17 p.m. Tuesday near the 40800 block and Card Sound Road. Aerial video shows flames lapping at the vegetation, and officials shut down both directions of Card Sound Road and U.S. 1 to allow units to access additional water sources.

At first, Kathy said she thought the thick smoke clouds were just a rainstorm.

"Within minutes we're on top of it and the flames were very, very close to us, and moving to us, and the entire car got super hot... almost like the fire was with you," she said. "Everyone in the car was flipping out."

Richard recalled the low visibility as they raced north against the fire.

"When the thick, thick black smoke came and obstructed our view it was hard to tell whether or not you're gonna crash into the person in front of you, you couldn't see at all," he said.

Kathy's brother was at the wheel.

"We were all just telling my brother, 'Floor it, floor it, you gotta get past,' and, 'Do your New York driving, just go,'" she said.

But even in broad daylight, it was difficult to see anything.

"You could cut a knife through the smoke," Kathy said. "We couldn't see other than the blinking lights ahead of us."

They followed those emergency lights until the smoke cleared. At one point, a fire truck sprayed water on their minivan to help keep their vehicle cool.

"We're just so fortunate that we got out when we did," Kathy said.

All six family members arrived home safely.

There are no reported injuries or threats to nearby structures. The fire has burned around 3,600 acres and was 20% contained as of Wednesday morning.

Traffic on the 18-mile stretch started moving slowly on Tuesday night, but Monroe County Sheriff's officials advised motorists to avoid the area.

U.S. 1 southbound heading to the Keys was closed again on Wednesday but reopened, while Card Sound Road also remained closed Wednesday.

Crews are working to contain a wildfire in southwest Miami-Dade that has been shutting down access in and out of the Florida Keys.

Thousands of acres are now burned and the size of the fire kept growing despite continuous efforts to put out the flames.

Here's what to know about the fire – officially known as the 344 fire – including road closures, weather conditions and firefight operations.

How big is the fire?

According to the Florida Forest Service, the fire, which began Tuesday, is 24,000 acres in size and was about 30% contained as of Thursday afternoon.

What roads are closed?

U.S. 1 will open and close intermittently for an uncertain amount of time for fire operations, officials said.

Card Sound Road, the only other road connecting the Keys to Florida City on the mainland, remains closed until further notice.

What is a red flag warning?

As crews worked to extinguish and control and fire, the National Weather Service issued a red flag fire warning for Thursday for a large area of South Florida and up to the Lake Okeechobee area.

When gusty winds and low humidity are expected, a red flag warning may be issued. This means fire danger is high, with an increased probability of a fire quickly spreading out of control.

The red flag warning was canceled by Thursday evening and was replaced by a fire weather watch for Friday morning through the evening.

FIRE WEATHER WATCH in effect for tomorrow, Friday 21st, for Palm Beach, Broward, & Miami-Dade Co. due to low relative humidity, with northerly winds 10-15 mph, & existing drought conditions. There are elevated fire weather concerns and outdoor burning is NOT recommended. pic.twitter.com/T0HkjEGxTQ

— NWS Miami (@NWSMiami) March 21, 2025

It is not rare for brush fires to break out in South Florida during what is known as dry season. Rainy season begins in mid-May.

Are there any injuries or threatened structures?

There were no reported injuries as of Thursday. The area where the fire broke out is largely rural. Officials said no structures are threatened.

How do crews fight the fire?

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said it is working with the Florida Forest Service to put out the fire. Crews were seen on the ground and in the air, working around the clock.

The Florida Forest Service gave NBC6 a closer look at the firefight along Card Sound Road.

“It is dry enough for everything to burn, but wet enough that we can’t put our equipment there without sinking. So it’s very challenging," said Kevin MacEwen with the Florida Forest Service.

Aerial operations have been crucial in this battle as Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and the Florida Forest Service can’t access certain areas on the ground.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s Air Rescue mission involves deploying Bambi Buckets to release water into the hotspots. There are two MDFR chopper crews actively working the fire, circling back every 1 to 2 minutes.

NBC6 observed helicopters hovering over a lake near the Homestead-Miami Speedway and using the buckets to collect the water. The helicopters then fly over back to the fire to dump the water there.

“It’s probably one of the more dangerous operations that we conduct. We do conduct a lot of training on it," said Chief Pilot Robert Wallis of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.

The Florida Forest Service has four helicopters on the scene, along with four planes. Each bucket carries about 320 gallons of water.

“Aviation is always a risky business to some level but it is inherently safe, and fire is also a potentially dangerous operation so when we mix the two ... but you know we are extremely cautious," said Francis Neeley of Florida Forest Service Aviation. "We go through protocol, we do checklists, and this is why we do briefings before and debriefings after.”