Big Cypress National Preserve | Florida
FIRE SUMMARY
Firefighters are beginning to slowly make progress on this fire but have been hampered by high temps with low humidity, producing moderate active fire behavior. Fire activity is expected to slow during the evening but gain momentum tomorrow morning on Saturday due to more dry conditions and increasing winds.
The Easterly winds continue to push the fire towards I-75 and SR29 and may be increasing smoke in the area of I-75 and SR41.
Drivers are cautioned to drive slowly in the area and according to conditions. See emergency equipment approaching with lights and sirens? Remember to #MoveOver. It’s the Law.
Starting fire to stop the spread of the Main fire during #MudLakeComplex fire. [Photo Credit: Jason Longfellow / Florida Forest Service]
LOCATION
- North and South of I-75
- North of SR41
- 10 miles East of SR29
START DATE
May 8, 2015 at 1400 hours
CONTAINMENT STATUS
12,133 acres have currently burned. There is currently a 5% containment status. The fire is active, running and creeping.
FUELS
Southern Rough
CAUSE
Lightning from passing overhead Thunderstorms.
RESOURCES
- 145 personnel
CONTACT NUMBERS
- Fire PIO: #234-695-0881
Working to keep the fire in the containment line, a firefighter is seen here working on the fire perimeter. [Photo Credit: Jason Longfellow / Florida Forest Service]
ABOUT BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE:
Before Gerald Ford became the 38th U.S. President, he previously worked as a National Park Ranger in the Yellowstone National Park in 1936. He is the only President to have worked for the National Park Service.
In 1974, he introduced the Big Cypress National Preserve as “America’s First National Preserve”.
It is home to 729,000 acres of fresh water swamp ecosystem, a mixture of tropical and coastal plant communities and to the elusive panther on Florida’s Southwestern coastline.
[c] 2015 The NW Fire Blog
