MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A grass fire near mile marker 125 caused southbound lanes of U.S. 1 to be closed off due to the smoke, however all lanes have since reopened.
For hours, troopers were diverting traffic, causing drivers not to be able to go south on U.S. 1.
They finally reopened those lanes late Tuesday night, though officials said that could change if the wind and the smoke remain away from the road.
According to the Florida Forestry Service, 150 acres have burned so far, and the fire is 20% contained.
Investigators believe the blaze started due to a pickup truck that caught fire on the Miami-Dade side of the roadway. That fire spread into the grass.
“The winds pushed some of that fire into the brush on the highway, and started what is now a 75-acre fire,” said David Rosenbaum, with the Florida Forest Service.
He also said conditions remain prime for more fires.
“Until we do get some more rain in the area, these are perfect conditions, with the wind and the fuel, the dry vegetation, to create fires,” Rosenbaum said.