Mustang Corner Fire Update 11 Am
Incident: Mustang Corner Wildfire
Released: 5/18/2008
The Mustang Corner Fire has burned approximately 32,821 acres since May 14th and is 20% contained. The Southern Area Incident Management Blue Team began managing the fire on Saturday morning. Fire crews continue to actively suppress the fire utilizing air and ground resources.
Record high temperatures and low relative humidity, combined with southwest winds may result in extreme fire behavior and smoky conditions.
Burnout operations were conducted yesterday to protect structures south of Chekika visitor area and to impede the fire's progress toward the eastern boundary of the Everglades National Park. A dense smoke advisory remains is in effect for west Miami-Dade.
Firefighters evaluated the possibility of conducting a burnout near the southern perimeter of the Mustang Corner Fire within Everglades National Park. However, based on field observations this morning, the southern portion of the fire is burning cooler, allowing firefighters to directly attack the fire. This will reduce the amount of smoke rising into the air.
Fire officials may make the decision to initiate a burnout if the current strategy does not hold the fire. The burnout would remove flammable fuels from the area in the event weather conditions over the next few days push the fire in a southerly direction.
Suppression work is also taking place in areas around habitat of the federally endangered Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow, which only exists in everglade ecosystems.
Road Closures
Everglades National Park has temporarily closed Richmond Drive (SW 168th Street) west
of the park border to motorized and non-motorized vehicles due to public safety concerns.
For Mustang Corner Fire information email mustangcornerfire@gmail.com
or call 404-354-5878. An incident website will be established today and
can be accessed at www.inciweb.org.
