Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay joined Good Morning Keys on KeysTalk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about the wild fire in Miami Dade County.
The fire is apparently about 20% contained, but it is definitely affecting parts of the Keys.
Sheriff Ramsay said, “It still continues to be a problem. I think yesterday it was about 20% contained. I think last night they said it kind of ballooned in size. So the forestry division and Miami Dade County Fire Rescue are still struggling with this fire. As we know, Card Sound Road is and has been shut down, and whether it is going to be open is yet to be determined. I’m understanding there’s some issues with debris on the road between power lines and poles that were burnt in the fire. We’re not sure why they just can’t get a front end loader and put the blade down and push it off the road like we do after post hurricane. But that’s yet to be seen. Right now the road, 18 mile stretch is open. Traffic is flowing. It’s running a little bit slower northbound. There’s more southbound congestion than the northbound, which is common people coming into the county to work. So we are seeing a little heavier southbound influx, but north and south at the moment is open, and that’s obviously subject change. They tell me today they think we shouldn’t have any adverse impacts. The winds are going to be a good thing today, I guess. I’m understanding tomorrow they’re a little more worried about the change in the wind direction and speed, where tomorrow can be more of an issue, and they’re also dealing with some areas where they just can’t get to with apparatus. They’re going to have to rely on helicopters and air drops. They’re trying to do some control burns today, to do some back burns before the winds change tomorrow to try to mitigate the impacts on public safety. So right now, again, people should continue to look at the Sheriff’s Office app for any changes. Changes are occurring very rapidly, and information we’re receiving from Miami Dade County has been almost nothing, which is frustrating because we don’t know what’s going on. They’re not coordinating with this county, and they’re making decisions which adversely impact Monroe without us even being involved or trying to give notice to our citizens. So people are getting virtually trapped by the time they decide they’re just going to shut the road down in the middle of nowhere. So we wish they would do it better to help us inform our citizens, but we’re going to be dealing with it, I guess, today and tomorrow for sure. You just have to use due care, leave early, plan ahead, expect delays. I wouldn’t plan on any type of reasons to go to Miami unless you really have to. It’s just probably not the time to take a chance to get to Miami and maybe not be able to get back for a period of time.”
Because the situation is changing rapidly and information can be a little scarce, it’s probably best to avoid the area.
Sheriff Ramsay said, “It’s difficult when it’s occurring so fast that the changes they’re making are just without any notice. So again, our citizens could find themselves almost in a trap situation. If you don’t have to go past there, don’t go past there. I think it’s the best message and watch the sheriff’s office app for updates as we get him, we’ll pass them on.”
About 3600 acres of lands have been burned thus far.
Sheriff Ramsay said, “It’s on the Dade County side where the issues are with the road. Again, we cannot get much information from Dade County, frustrating as it is, and you’d think that will be a full court effort to get that side open as an alternate route, in case we shut down 18 miles stretch, if there’s a possibility still flowing traffic 18 miles as well as from there on to Card Sound, as well as our friends in Ocean Reef are virtually trapped. The possibility exists if they want to make it happen, it’s not that difficult. You check with FP&L and l make sure there’s no live wires, which there shouldn’t be. You get a front end loader from South Dade, you just run down the road in a small area where the poles were damaged, the lines could be down. Just like we do post hurricane, you clear the road. If you can’t get the road cleared, we can’t deal with emergency vehicles, public safety through traffic flow. You have to have open roads to complete any and all missions. So I think they’re failing there, and I think they’re failing in the communication or lack thereof.”