Big Cypress Fire Hits 35K Acres

The wildfire, dubbed the National Fire, was first discovered on February 22 and grew rapidly due to ongoing Stage 3 drought conditions and an abundance of frost-killed vegetation that provided a ready fuel source. La Niña weather patterns and a series of cold fronts with northerly winds have also contributed to the fire's quick spread. By February 28, a team of 197 personnel was battling the blaze, utilizing 15 engines, 4 helicopters, and 3 single-engine airtankers. Management of the incident was transferred to the Southern Area Gray Incident Management Team to coordinate the large-scale suppression efforts. The cost of fighting the fire had already reached $1.2 million by February 28. To strengthen containment lines, crews performed strategic firing operations—intentionally setting fires to burn fuel ahead of the main wildfire—along State Road 29. These defensive burns accounted for a significant portion of the fire's acreage gain and were intended to create a buffer to protect roadways. The smoke has caused significant travel disruptions, leading to the temporary closure of a stretch of Interstate 75 known as Alligator Alley. Officials have warned drivers about the potential for "super fog," a dangerous mix of smoke and morning fog that can reduce visibility to near zero, a phenomenon that has caused deadly pileups in the past. A voluntary evacuation was temporarily implemented for the community of Jerome as crews conducted burning operations along SR-29, which was also closed for a period. Though some campgrounds were closed, no structures have been damaged, and no firefighters have been injured. Fire is a natural part of the Big Cypress landscape, which is adapted to and dependent on periodic burns for its ecological health. However, the current fire's rapid spread is exacerbated by exceptionally dry conditions, with months of no significant precipitation in the region.