This Wednesday, nearly 100 wildfires are raging across Florida, with significant concern centered west of Miami. The so-called Highway 41 Fire has scorched over 6,500 acres and is completely uncontained, according to meteorologist Matt Devitt.
The fire ignited on Monday night at the northeast corner of Everglades National Park, south of U.S. Route 41 (Tamiami Trail) and east of Shark Valley in Miami-Dade County.
Driven by extreme drought conditions, the blaze is advancing southward and westward, consuming sawgrass. The U.S. Forest Service has warned that the fire's intensity has increased significantly due to the dry weather.
As a precaution, Everglades National Park has closed the area between the L-67 canal on the west and the L-31 canal on the east, spanning from Route 41 southward to several miles north of Mahogany Hammock. This closure includes parking areas, facilities, and waterways.
The wildfire has also led to the closure of popular tourist attractions like Coopertown Airboats, Everglades Safari Park, and Gator Park, affecting visitors who travel from Miami to explore the wetlands by boat.
A group of four tourists from Turin, Italy, arrived at Everglades Safari Park at mile marker 27, only to find a handwritten sign indicating the park's closure.
"We saw it from the road, so we knew it was serious," said Andreas Scandurra.
Despite the fire, Tamiami Trail (US-41), the main access road to the Everglades from Miami, remained open to traffic on Wednesday. However, authorities are keeping a close watch on the situation for potential smoke-related closures.
The National Weather Service has issued advisories regarding possible smoke conditions in western Miami-Dade County at night, though they have not yet reached levels warranting a safety alert.
The Everglades fire is not an isolated incident. South Florida is grappling with its worst drought in decades, with over 70% of the state experiencing "extreme" or "exceptional" drought conditions, as reported by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Precipitation levels have been less than 50% of the average since September 2025, exacerbated by the lack of tropical storms in 2025 and the La Niña phenomenon during winter.
In recent weeks, a blaze in the Everglades of Broward County advanced towards US-27, consuming around 2,000 acres, while the Newman Drive Fire in Collier County devoured more than 1,500 acres in mid-April.
On April 17, six simultaneous wildfires burned 760 acres in different parts of the state, highlighting the enormity of the crisis.
As of April 28, 45 out of Florida's 67 counties had active burn bans, according to the Florida Forest Service, which reported 103 active fires burning 15,587 acres on that day alone.
Since the beginning of the year, Florida has experienced over 1,916 wildfires, with approximately 125,000 acres burned, marking the state's most severe wildfire season in decades.
Florida Wildfires: Key Questions Answered
What is the current status of the Highway 41 Fire?
As of now, the Highway 41 Fire has burned over 6,500 acres with 0% containment, posing a significant threat to the Everglades.
How is the drought affecting Florida's wildfire situation?
Florida is experiencing its worst drought in decades, with more than 70% of the state under "extreme" or "exceptional" drought conditions, significantly exacerbating the wildfire crisis.
Are there any road closures due to the wildfires?
While the Tamiami Trail (US-41) remains open, authorities are monitoring for potential closures due to smoke from the wildfires.