Brush Fire Burns 350 Acres, Shuts Florida Keys Roads as Drought Hits 84% of State

11 posts • GPT (4.1)

Updated May 9, 2025, 02:11 PM

A brush fire in southern Miami-Dade County has led to the closure of both main roads in and out of the Florida Keys—U.S. Route 1 and Card Sound Road—according to local officials. The fire began Thursday near Card Sound Road and the Southwest 392nd block, with intermittent closures of the 18-Mile Stretch and Card Sound Road continuing into Friday. As of Friday morning, U.S. Route 1 southbound had reopened, but northbound remained closed, and Card Sound Road was closed in both directions. Authorities advised residents and commuters to avoid the area due to smoky conditions and the risk of further closures. Some drivers were stranded for hours.

The fire, known as the #167WestFire, has burned over 350 acres and was reported to be 25% contained by Friday morning. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and the Florida Forest Service are working to control the blaze. The scene is reminiscent of the March 344 Fire. The fire's location and ongoing drought conditions have prompted intermittent travel disruptions.

The brush fire comes as Florida faces severe drought conditions, with more than 84% of the state—affecting over 17 million people—experiencing drought ranging from abnormally dry to extreme. The Gulf Coast of South Florida is experiencing its worst drought in 24 years, with a Keetch-Byram Drought Index mean of 466 and 9 counties registering over 600. As of May 8, there were 66 wildfires burning across the state, leading to burn bans in 23 counties including Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Monroe, and Sarasota. Rain is expected over Mother's Day weekend, which may provide some relief.

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#Card Sound Road #Southwest 392nd #Florida Forest Service #March 344 Fire #Florida #Charlotte #Collier #DeSoto #Hardee #Hillsborough #Lee #Manatee #Monroe #Sarasota

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Sources

nbcmiami.com(2)palmbeachpost.com(2)gulfcoastnewsnow.com miamiherald.com

WeatherNation

@WeatherNation

South Florida is facing severe drought conditions, some of the worst in years, which has led to numerous fires this spring. Access to the Keys on US-1 was closed yesterday due to the #167WestFire burning in Miami-Dade County, which has surpassed 350 acres. #FLwx https://t.co/Xik6cy9mV2

Anthony Duarte

@AnthonyDuarte03

Florida’s drought is worsening as D4 (extreme) conditions continue to expand across the southern and central portions of the state as of yesterday’s newest update. Fort Myers, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Arcadia, and Daytona Beach are all now under a severe drought, which is the https://t.co/kpgL2wy71q

Gulf Coast News

@GCNNow

The new drought monitor looks at way more than just numbers. Here's what happens behind the scenes. #weather #capecoral #florida #flwx https://t.co/FDS7POKPgV