What is the location of the wildfire?
As of March 26, 2025, the 344 wildfire is a contained fire in Miami-Dade County, Florida, near the 18-Mile Stretch of U.S. Highway 1, a critical roadway that serves as the only highway connection between the Florida Keys and the mainland (1)(2). All road access to the Florida Keys was cut off on near the outbreak of the fire.
The fire affected Card Sound Road, another key route in the area. The fire was close to the Florida Keys but was primarily located on the Miami-Dade County side.
Which cities or areas are affected by the wildfire?
The wildfire significantly impacted the Florida Keys and Miami-Dade County, particularly travelers using U.S. Highway 1 and Card Sound Road (3). It was burning near Florida City.
The 18-Mile Stretch closure temporarily cut off all road access to and from the Florida Keys, leading to severe traffic disruptions. Residents, businesses, and emergency responders in the Keys were affected by the closure, as U.S. 1 is the only major roadway linking the islands to the mainland.
What is the current containment status of the wildfire?
As of March 26, the wildfire had burned approximately 27,000 acres and is fully contained (4).
Fire crews, including teams from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and the Florida Forest Service, were actively working to contain the blaze.
Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place?
There were no confirmed evacuation orders for residents or businesses in the affected areas. Authorities have also not reported any injuries or structural damage related to the wildfire.
How can I protect myself from wildfire smoke?
Always plan ahead to protect yourself from wildfire smoke.
- Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
- Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
- Run a high-performance air purifier to filter wildfire smoke.
- Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
- Stay indoors; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
As of March 25, 2025, this fire is 80% contained.
