Brush Fire Sparked by Lightning Rages in Florida Everglades

A brush fire consumed 31,500 acres of sawgrass in the Everglades in Broward County, Florida, local emergency officials said on Tuesday, June 25.

The blaze spread rapidly on Tuesday, expanding from an estimated 18,500 acres to 31,500 over the course of several hours. However, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday that the fire, which was sparked by lightning, was not threatening homes.

Local media reported that firefighters were not working to extinguishing the fire, but were rather monitoring it as it spread southeast.

On Monday, local fire departments issued smoke warnings in Coral Springs, east of the fire. Credit: Broward Sheriff via Storyful