The June 2026 Miami-Dade Wildfires: What Happened on the Edge of the Everglades
For close to two weeks in June 2026, smoke from wildfires on the eastern edge of the Everglades hung over western Miami-Dade County. Roads closed, residents were told to limit time outdoors, and hundreds of firefighters worked the flames. Below is a plain-language recap based on official figures and local reporting, followed by what it means if you're planning an Everglades tour from Miami.
How the fires started
According to the Miami Herald, the first fire was sparked by lightning on June 14 during thunderstorms over the grassy flats near Krome Avenue. It later split into two fires, known as Quarry 2 and Well. A few days later, another lightning strike started a third fire in a neighboring area. Some reports called it the Corrections fire and others the Coptic fire.
How big they got
By June 25, the fires had burned more than 22,000 acres combined, according to Florida Forest Service figures reported by the Herald. Quarry 2 was the largest at about 19,000 acres and was 97% contained by then.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said it called in hundreds of firefighters from more than 70 fire stations, along with dozens of fire engines, water trucks and aerial water drops. Once Fire Rescue pulled off the front lines, the Florida Forest Service took over monitoring the last stages of the fires.
Roads, smoke and air quality
For people living and traveling west of the city, the biggest effects were traffic and smoke:
Road closures: A long stretch of Krome Avenue was closed for most of an 11-day period, and parts of Florida's Turnpike were also shut. Tamiami Trail (US 41), the road our dock is on, was affected too. Miccosukee Police announced on June 20 that it would start to reopen, and WSVN reported on June 21 that the closed Krome Avenue and Turnpike lanes were open again.
Voluntary evacuations: More than 200 people voluntarily left a trailer-park community along Krome Avenue as smoke and ash moved in.
Air quality: Authorities urged people to limit time outdoors and keep windows closed. By June 25, most of west Miami-Dade was back to good air-quality readings on AirNow.gov.
Why the drought made these fires a bigger concern
Fire on its own isn't unusual in the Everglades. The National Park Service uses fire to clear built-up plant material, control exotic plants and maintain native habitat. It also manages some lightning-started fires in remote areas. In the transition from the dry to the wet season, which usually starts around the third week of May, the Park Service says lightning fires are common.
What changes the picture is water. The Park Service says those lightning fires are usually easy to manage unless the summer rains come late or there's a drought. It also warns that hammock and peat fires become a concern when water levels are unusually low. In 2026 the water never fully came back. In late September, the South Florida Water Management District said dry conditions were still raising the risk of damaging wildfires and peat loss across the central Everglades. We explain the background in Everglades Drought 2026 and Fire in the Everglades: When It Helps and When It Harms.
What this means if you're planning a tour
Our tours are private sightseeing trips. They are not visits to active fires. If fire, smoke or weather affects the water on your date, your captain plans around it, and every one of our captains holds a U.S. Coast Guard license. A few practical tips:
Check the drive. Our airboat dock is at 5334 FL-90 on Tamiami Trail. Closures on Krome Avenue or nearby roads can add time, so check live traffic before you leave and plan to arrive 15–20 minutes early.
Skip the driving. With private round-trip van transportation ($400 for up to 13 guests, 4-guest minimum, tours of 1.5 hours or longer), we pick you up in Miami, Fort Lauderdale or the Keys and handle the route.
Watch the air. If anyone in your group has a respiratory condition, check AirNow.gov the day before.
Keep your options open. Cancel at least 24 hours before your tour for a full refund. If conditions change closer to your date, contact us about your booking.
Wildfire questions from visitors
Is all fire bad for the Everglades?
No. Fire is part of how the Everglades works. Its effects depend on the habitat, the water level and how the fire burns. Drought is what makes deep-burning fires more of a risk.
Are tours running now?
We're open 24 hours and confirm every tour time when you book. Conditions change, so ask about your date when you request your tour.
Can a tour take us to see an active fire?
No. Our tours are private sightseeing trips, not visits to active fires, and your captain decides the route based on the day's conditions.
Plan your private tour
See private airboat tour lengths and prices, or plan a group outing or a cruise-day tour.
Sources: Miami Herald, June 25, 2026 · Miami Herald, June 21, 2026 · WSVN, June 21, 2026 · NPS: fire management in Everglades National Park · SFWMD report, Sept. 30, 2026.
