Above: In the map above the purple area was the location of the Parliament Fire Tuesday evening, March 21, 2017.
(Originally published at 4:40 p.m. EDT March 22, 2017)
The Parliament Fire has burned over 11,000 acres in Big Cypress National Preserve in south Florida. The fire is just north of US 41, also known at the Tamiami Trail.
The National Park Service is not aggressively suppressing it, but the fire is being “managed” using monitor, confine, and contain strategies implemented by a Type 3 Incident Management Team led by Incident Commander Ledbetter.
The Park released the following information on March 21:
The incident command has dispatched aviation, ground resources, and crews to secure private structures, protect high value resources, and implement various containment strategies. The fire is currently 15% contained. Containment efforts will continue using established trails, natural barriers, and previously prescribed fire areas.
The fire is not a result of planned prescribed fire activities. The source and origins of the fire are still under active investigation.
The fire started on March 18 and is threatening 67 structures. Yesterday’s report showed 37 personnel, one hand crew, one engine, and one Type 3 helicopter assigned. On Wednesday an additional ~50 personnel and one helicopter were added to the mix.
The park does a great deal of prescribed burning. For example, in January they conducted the 30,000-acre Airplane Prescribed Fire.
#USFWS firefighters have been assisting .@BigCypressNPS with the 30,000 acre #rxfire this week, expect smoke again today #FLfire #goodfires pic.twitter.com/NRrSYHFmat
— USFWS Fire SE (@USFWSFireSE) January 27, 2017
@james valdez, Florida’s fire season has kicked off early and with a vengenance this year
Also due to the nature of the Preserve, Florida’s normal firefighting tactics, i.e. tractor plows cannot be used (due to restrictions on equipment and the swampy terrain) it is all engines, firing operations and mechanical mulching for control lines
That’s a big fire for this time of the year.