Crews in South Florida were trying to contain a wildfire in Big Cypress National Park that had burned more than 25,000 acres (100 square kilometers) near an immigration detention facility known as ” Alcatraz crocodile “As of Wednesday.
The fire caused periodic lane closures due to smoke and poor visibility along Interstate 75, known as Alligator Alley, which connects the east and west coasts of Florida and passes through the vast wetlands of the Everglades. Forest fires are common in dry winters.
However, Stephanie Hartman, communications director for Florida Emergency Management, said the wildfires posed no threat Wednesday to the state-run “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration prison.
“The fire is located 20 miles (32 kilometers) west of the facility and is burning in the opposite direction. Thanks to the increasing humidity levels, we are seeing faster fire recovery and containment,” she added.
Alligator Alcatraz, which opened last July at a little-used airport deep in the Everglades, has become a flashpoint in the Trump administration’s sweeping campaign. Immigration campaign The detainees are held by the federal government Seeking deportation.
Hartman said the department is in contact with local and state crews regarding the wildfires, who will provide them with 24-hour notice if an evacuation at Allegator Alcatraz becomes necessary. She said evacuation procedures were well rehearsed, allowing for a quick and effective response.
She did not immediately respond to a question about the number of detainees in the facility.
When it opens in July 2025, state officials said Alligator Alcatraz will have the capacity to hold 3,000 detainees and can be expanded to 5,000. According to recent reports revealed during a series of court hearings in Fort Myers in late January, there were about 1,500 detainees.
A strong cold front Sunday also brought dry air, triggering a red flag warning for fire conditions across much of the state, said Anthony Raines, chief meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Miami.
Relative humidity increased on Wednesday, which helped mitigate the conditions that fueled the fire, Raines said. He added that conditions are still ripe for forest fires to break out due to southern winds and dry soil and grass.
He added that very little rain is expected for the rest of the week, which means severe drought conditions will continue across the state.
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Associated Press writer Gisela Salomon in Miami contributed.