Stubborn brush fire closes Card Sound Road into the Keys
A brush fire menacing deep South Miami-Dade for the past few days has shut down one of the roads in and out of the Florida Keys.
Card Sound Road was closed to traffic Monday morning as Miami-Dade County and Florida Forest Service firefighters battled to contain the blaze. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office announced the road was closed around 10:45 a.m. and it was still closed as of midafternoon.
Most people traveling to and from the Keys take the 18 Mile Stretch of U.S. 1, which leads from Florida City to Key Largo. But drivers can also take Card Sound Road from Florida City. Card Sound leads east to County Road 905, which goes to Key Largo.
Scott Peterich, spokesman for the Florida Forest Service, said firefighters were working to contain the fire east of Card Sound Road so that it doesn’t jump the road and move
toward U.S. 1.
But he said easterly winds were making that goal difficult to achieve.
“It’s moving west and could impact U.S. 1,” Peterich said.
As of 2 p.m., firefighters had the blaze, which the
Forest Service has labeled the 416 fire, 55% contained. But it still covered a large burn area of about 11,500 acres across deep South Miami-Dade toward the Keys, Peterich said.
The fire, which started Friday, is not threatening
homes or businesses for now.