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Wildfire closes Alligator Alley; smoke blows toward Naples

The Associated Press

The fire is burning on both sides of I-75 between mile markers 77 and 80.

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 23, 2009

Updated: 04/23/2009 11:59 am

Weather conditions in the Everglades won't provide much help for crews battling a wildfire that has grown to more than 4,000 acres and closed Interstate 75 across the state.

Winds are pushing the fire north and northwest and will carry smoke toward the populated areas of Naples. They may turn more easterly later today, which would direct more smoke toward the residential areas.

Those winds are forecast to increase later in the afternoon and early evening. Also, they will not diminish much after dark, according to the National Weather Service. The wind will stay in the 6 to 9 mph range through the night and pick up again after sunrise.

Winds will increase to more than 10 mph with higher gusts during the rest of Friday.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the fire is burning on both sides of Alligator Alley between mile marker 80 and 77 and just east of State Road 29. The highway is the main east-west link across the southern part of the state.

The patrol has closed eastbound I-75 in Collier County from exit 101 and westbound I-75 from U.S. 27 in Broward County. Also, State Road 29 is closed from U.S. 41 north to Oil Well Road in Collier.

The patrol does not expect conditions to change through the afternoon and into the night.

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