Crews continue to monitor brush fire

SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (WSVN) -- Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and the Division of Forestry has contained 90 percent of a brush fire after it endangered several South Florida homes.

Wednesday morning, for the third straight day, thick gray smoke hung in the area of Southwest 142nd Avenue and 112th Street, as flames continued burning in a county nature preserve.

Crews had thought they had the blaze under control Monday but were still warning residents with respiratory problems to stay indoors the following day. By late Tuesday afternoon, 40 acres had burned and the fire was nearly contained.

Strong winds are believed to have re-ignited the embers, and crews had to continue the fight, early the following morning. Scott Peterich of the Florida Forest Service, "You've got to understand, these conditions are very, very dry. We haven't had any rain, and the duff layer out there is upwards from six inches to 18 inches deep. Duff meaning, it's just natural, organic matter that has built up."

Miguel Villa's home was just feet away from where the fire burned. "You can see the flames probably a good 200 feet in, and about 20 feet tall so this was a scary sight," said Villa.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews and the Florida Forest Service were working together to keep the fire contained to the northern portion of the preserve. "Our concern is that it runs all the way to Southwest 120th Street, which has the Tamiami Airport across the road," Peterich said.

The fire was also burning close to populated areas. Officials closed Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School due to thick smoke Tuesday, but it re-opened on Wednesday.

Throughout the day Tuesday, however, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, remained open for voting. "The precinct is full operationally," said Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections Penelope Townsley. "Prior to the polling place opening, we had generators deployed."

At this point, the cause of the fire remains under investigation, but Peterich suspects the fire maybe the result of arson, as there was no lightning in the area. "We know there was no lightning last night, and when we rule out lightning then it was more than likely human caused," he said.

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