The top stories on CBS4.com
May 14, 2009 11:02 pm US/Eastern
Roads Reopen After 2 Fires Burn In South Florida
WEST BROWARD COUNTY (CBS4) ―
-
-
Flames and heavy smoke billowed from a brush fire near Hialeah on May 14, 2009
CBS
Firefighters worked well into the night Thursday, trying to prevent a brush fire near the Dolphin Mall from flaring up again, but it wasn't the only fire that created problems in South Florida during rush hour.
The westbound lanes of Northwest 12th Street were shut down for several hours in Doral, west of NW 107th Avenue, because of the fire that burned near the mall. That fire consumed 10 acres and was burning so hot, and let off so much heavy smoke that it stretched into the mall's parking lot. However, the mall was not threatened and remained open despite the smoke.
Lauren Arkin was shopping and came out to watch firefighters tackle it.
"It got pretty intense, really cloudy," said Arkin. "Kind of had to close your eyes for a little bit, close your mouth."
In West Broward County 50 acres burned and shut down the northbound and southbound exit ramps on US27 leading to I-75. The westbound lanes of Alligator Alley (the part of I-75 that takes you to Ft. Myers and Naples) was also shut down because the heavy smoke did away with visibility in the area. All the closures have been lifted and traffic is flowing again.
CLICK HERE for the latest traffic info and road closures with an interactive map on
CBS4.COM.
Extra dry conditions and drought have created prime conditions for brush fires to break out in wooded areas of South Florida. Another fire burned in Medley near Okeechobee Road in Hialeah, but traffic closures were not reported.
CBS4.COM's Daniel Lastra contributed to this report
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Fight Turns To Shooting In NW Miami-Dade
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
