Wildfire Smoke Alert
600-Acre Quarry 2 Wildfire Spreads Smoke Across Miami-Dade, Broward; Air Quality Alert Issued
Key Points
Florida Forest Service’s active-wildfires map showed the Quarry 2 Wildfire had burned about 600 acres and was “30% contained,” with the map updated at 12:40 a.m. June 16; Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said crews would remain on scene overnight to monitor conditions and help prevent the fire from spreading.
The National Weather Service air quality alert cited “near surface smoke,” and the alert was set to run through 12 p.m. June 16; it also advised people to monitor local conditions and reduce outdoor activity if they are “unusually sensitive to particle pollution.”
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s smoke guidance included instructions to “stay indoors and recirculate indoor air” for people with respiratory issues, according to a social-media alert highlighted in coverage of the incident.
A Doral Police Department social-media post tied traffic-signal failures to power outages at specific intersections—NW 107 Ave. and NW 41 St., plus NW 102 Ave. and NW 41 St.—as the wildfire affected local conditions.
A wildfire in west Miami-Dade County has burned about 600 acres and remains only 30% contained as of early June 16, according to Florida Forest Service. The Quarry 2 fire started Monday afternoon near NW 137th Avenue and NW 41st Street, sending thick smoke across parts of Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
Officials upgraded the response to a first alarm and deployed air rescue helicopters. Crews stayed on scene overnight. A heat index of 107°F is expected to make Tuesday's suppression efforts even harder, CBS News reported.
Helicopters Drop Water as Flames Grow Overnight
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue sent both air rescue units to the fire Monday evening. Each helicopter used a "Bambi bucket" — a collapsible tank that holds 300 gallons of water — to douse the heaviest burning areas. MDFR Chief Rogelio Vandamas said, "We had both air rescue units out here... using what we call the Bambi bucket... to knock it down," according to CBS News.
Ground crews from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and the Florida Forest Service worked through the night. The FFS updated its active-wildfires map at 12:40 a.m. June 16, confirming the 600-acre mark. Local 10 reported no injuries from the fire. Crews plan to continue suppression throughout Tuesday as conditions remain dangerous.
Broward Air Quality Alert Warns Sensitive Residents to Stay Inside
The National Weather Service issued an air quality alert for Broward County due to "near-surface smoke." The alert runs through noon on June 16. It urges people who are "unusually sensitive to particle pollution" to limit outdoor activity, according to USA Today.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Spokesperson Erika Benitez warned that "smoke from brush fires contains small particles and some pollutants that can affect your overall health... especially your lungs." MDFR's social media advised people with respiratory issues to "stay indoors and recirculate indoor air." That includes people with asthma or other breathing conditions, NBC Miami reported.
Power Cuts Knock Out Traffic Signals Near Doral
Around 9:00 p.m. Monday, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue asked Florida Power & Light to cut power to a section of line running near the fire. FPL confirmed the isolation affected 38 customers. The move was made to keep firefighters safe near high-voltage lines, CBS News reported.
The outage knocked out traffic signals at two major Doral intersections: NW 107th Avenue at NW 41st Street, and NW 102nd Avenue at NW 41st Street. The Doral Police Department posted warnings on social media asking drivers to treat those intersections as four-way stops.
Florida's Worst Drought in Years Fuels a Record Fire Season
The Quarry 2 fire is part of a brutal 2026 statewide season. Florida has recorded more than 2,100 fires burning over 135,000 acres this year — a pace far ahead of the 3,100 fires logged in all of 2025, according to NBC Miami. NASA scientists call the current drought the worst Florida has seen since 2012.
Florida Forest Service Director Rick Dolan warned that "high fire danger and higher fire activity" is expected to last through the end of July. State Fire Marshal Blaise Ingoglia added that 42 counties are now under active burn bans. Governor Ron DeSantis declared a statewide emergency earlier this year covering all 67 counties, CBS News reported.
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