6000+ acre wildfire burns north of Alligator Alley in Broward County

A massive brush fire in western Broward County has burned more than 6,000 acres in the Everglades, with officials reporting it is 30% contained.

The fire is burning west of US-27, about 10 miles north of Alligator Alley. Drone footage captured flames visible before sunrise, and daytime aerial footage showed the extensive damage to the land.

Michelle Reid, a visitor from Scotland, said the fire was an unexpected part of her trip.

"100% happy that I am heading in the other direction," Reid said.

Reid, who is traveling south to the Florida Keys, added, "I've never been near or involved in anything like this."

Martha Flowers, who came from Pennsylvania, said she was trying to escape the smoke from Canadian wildfires but found herself near another fire.

"In Pennsylvania where I'm from, they're dealing with the Canadian smoke, so I'm going to go from one area to the next," Flowers said.

This fire is one of several that have occurred in the Everglades over the past month and a half. Steve Davis, chief science officer of the Everglades Foundation, said drought conditions caused by a lack of rainfall have made the area more vulnerable to fires.

"We've now entered into this extended dry period once again and it's really exacerbating the drought. It makes the system more vulnerable to fire, especially when water levels are at or below the soil surface," Davis said.

Davis explained that fires are common in this part of Florida's "River of Grass" but noted that more rainfall could help reduce their duration.

"June is generally a pretty good rainfall month, but we had about half or less of the typical average for that month. And what we're looking at in July is a below-average rainfall month," Davis said.