Everglades wildfire: Maps show devastation as 5,000 acres burn in the wake of an extreme Florida drought

"By Monday around 11 a.m., it had burned at least 5,600 acres, according to the Florida Forest Service, and was only 30% contained. In images and videos of the Max Road Miramar Fire, massive plumes of black smoke fill the sky; the smoke has caused low visibility on major roadways. Interactive wildfire maps provided by Watch Duty and Esri's Wildfire Aware are tracking the fire's spread in real time."

"Many may think of the Everglades as a swamp, and may wonder how such an environment can burn. Though Everglades National Park is a 1.5-million-acre wetlands preserve, it does experience a dry season from December to around mid-May. This year has been exceptionally dry. Florida is experiencing its worst drought in about 15 years. Most of the state is experiencing "extreme" drought, while counties in the Panhandle are in an "exceptional" drought, according to the National Weather Service."

"These dry conditions have already fueled multiple wildfires this year. Since January 1, there have been nearly 2,000 wildfires across the state, burning more than 86,000 acres. Typically, Florida sees some 2,400 fires in a whole year. Wildfires have also been burning through Georgia, which is experiencing similar record drought; when adding in that state, fires have burned more than 120,000 acres this year."

"Some regular burns are essential, experts have noted, helping to clear grass and fertilize the ground. But climate change, and the hotter, drier environment it creates, has also been a factor. "It's natural for the Everglades to dry down, but not dry out," Steve Davis"

A wildfire called the Max Road Miramar Fire has burned more than 5,000 acres in the Everglades area outside Miami. By Monday around 11 a.m., it had reached at least 5,600 acres and was about 30% contained. Black smoke plumes have reduced visibility on major roadways. Real-time tracking maps are monitoring the fire’s spread. The Everglades are a large wetlands preserve but experience a dry season from December to mid-May, and this year has been exceptionally dry. Florida is facing its worst drought in about 15 years, with extreme drought statewide and exceptional drought in the Panhandle. Drought conditions have fueled nearly 2,000 wildfires since January 1, burning over 86,000 acres, with additional large impacts in Georgia.

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