Fire in Big Cypress National Preserve continues to impact traffic

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. —

The “National Fire” burning inside Big Cypress National Preserve has grown to about 25,000 acres and remains zero percent contained, according to officials with the preserve.

The fire is burning near State Road 29 and I-75.

Earlier in the afternoon, smoke conditions along Alligator Alley changed rapidly.

A Gulf Coast News crew drove to the first rest stop along the highway and found smoky but still visible conditions on the way there. On the drive back, the smoke became much denser.

Udo and Kirsten Klibingat, visiting Collier County, said they experienced the smoke firsthand while riding their Harley motorcycle through the area.

“I sat there like trying to hold my breath, it's hard to breathe,” Kirsten said.

“You could not really breathe. And the thing is, you don't know when it will stop. That's a problem. So you drive and drive and drive and thinking even about the fact that what about if you can't breathe anymore?” Udo said. “There were pieces of ashes flying around.”

Big Cypress officials say much of the fire activity seen near the roadway is tied to defensive firing operations. Those controlled burns are used to prevent the main fire from crossing roads and spreading further.

Smoke is now blowing north over Alligator Alley. It can even be seen in Ave Maria, 15 miles north of the fire.

"I was struggling playing tennis this morning," Ave Maria resident, Dan Turner said. "I noticed my sinuses were bothering me, I don't know fi it's from that or not."

The highway remains open for now, but road crews were seen staging near the overpass in case closures are needed.

Lt. Greg Bueno with the Florida Highway Patrol urged drivers to use caution.

“Make sure your headlights are on, you know, do not stop in the road at any time. Because if visibility is poor, someone is not going to see you stopped in the road,” Bueno said.

Troopers say they will continue monitoring conditions and will shut down the Alley if visibility becomes too dangerous.

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