Wildfires

This time of year, when there is still some moisture in the backwoods, yet it hasn’t been raining every day, creates perfect conditions for professional firefighters to light a “controlled” or “prescribed” fire.

A fast-moving wildfire that incinerated much of the compact coastal settlement of Lahaina on Maui last week has multiplied concerns that any homes rebuilt there will be targeted at affluent outsiders seeking a tropical haven. That would turbo-charge what is already one of Hawaii’s gravest and biggest challenges: the exodus and displacement of Native Hawaiian and local-born residents who can no longer afford to live in their homeland.

Big Cypress National Preserve has issued temporary trail closures for visitor safety during prescribed fire activity beginning Monday and continuing through June 18, for the East Hinson and Airplane areas.

With more than half of the nearly 20,000-acre Sandy Fire now contained officials on Monday rescinded the evacuation plan put in place days ago. All residents within the impacted area have been updated on the change in evacuation status.

As of Sunday night, the Sandy Fire was reported at 19,814 acres and 45% contained. Ground and aviation resources will continue operations Monday, continuing to hold and improve control lines around the fire.

The Florida Highway Patrol closed a 58-plus mile portion of 41, from Krome Avenue in Dade to State Road 29 in Collier on Friday and Saturday to ensure the safety of travelers as well as for the firefighters working along the roadside.Friday's closure ran several hours and the FHP on Saturday said it anticipated another multi-hour closure.

The nearly two-week long Sandy Fire in the Big Cypress National Preserve in Collier County burned closer to U.S. 41 Friday prompting the Florida Highway patrol to issue a closure order.Containment on the wildfire has increased as crews tied control lines into U.S. 41 on the east flank of the fire. The fire grew several thousand acres from Wednesday into Thursday and was at 15,130 acres and 30% contained.

As disruptive as a wildfire can be, a forest fire is not only important to the ecosystem in which it burns, but is integral to slowing climate change.

The Sandy Fire in the southeastern portion of the Big Cypress National Preserve has grown over 11,000 acres and fire officials have activated a second phase of evacuation plans for those living within the affected area.The wildfire began May 1 as a 50-acre blaze in an area of the preserve between I-75 to then north and U.S. 41 to the south.