Florida fire near 'Alligator Alcatraz' grows to nearly 25,000 acres

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: USA Today

Updated Feb. 25, 2026, 10:21 p.m. ET


Fire crews are battling a wildfire in South Florida that has grown to nearly 25,000 acres on Wednesday, Feb. 25, as the blaze burned near the state's mass detention center known as "Alligator Alcatraz" and caused hazy conditions for surrounding areas.

The fire, which remais 0% contained as of Feb. 25, was discovered on Feb. 22 on federal lands south of Interstate 75, about 20 miles east of Naples, Florida, according to the Big Cypress National Preserve. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified the blaze as human-caused.

Firefighters were trying to contain the blaze, which has been named the National Fire, as heavy smoke created dangerous driving conditions along Alligator Alley — an 80-mile stretch of Interstate 75 from Naples, Florida, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The National Weather Service in Miami warned motorists that the smoke was reducing visibility to near zero and that southerly winds continued to push smoke across the highway.

Local authorities said wind shifts may increase smoke in other nearby areas, including State Road 29 and the Tamiami Trail. In an update on Feb. 25, the Big Cypress National Preserve noted that smoke impacts may increase in these areas and surrounding communities overnight and early morning hours.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/02/25/florida-wildfire-big-cypress-national-preserve-alligator-alcatraz/88869182007/

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Winter is Florida's "dry season" (meaning when wildfires can get going).

[flying_wahini]

1. I wonder if they will evacuate the prisoners?

Scary AF.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. There were huge concerns about that place

last summer during the hurricane season too - especially since it's an "open air" facility IIRC. They were just lucky the hurricanes didn't go that way.

[jmbar2]

3. I can't imagine being confined in temporary structures during a smoke event

It will jeopardize their health, and probably kill some. Any idea how many people are in there?

[BumRushDaShow]

4. These things are supposed to be "temporary" holding facilities

until the person is deported. But so many have been illegally arrested and the judicial orders to release them have been ignored, so who knows who is there at any moment in time as they seem to move people around from place to place trying to skirt the judges.

[SergeStorms]

5. Great. The Glades are on fire. Again.

I hope they get those "despersdos" out of there. The stink from burning swamp alone would be enough to seriously injure or kill them. The Glades burning are pretty much a constant in the dry season (winter). It's part of nature's renewal. But it's dangerous as he'll.

I don't know how many DUers have ever smelled a burning swamp, but it's seriously unpleasant!

I don't really care what the people in the "detention" center have supposedly done, get them out of there until the danger, and rotten smell, are gone.

[carpetbagger]

6. It's quite dry down there this winter.

I was in Southwest Florida a few weeks ago, it looked more like late April than early February (the dry season gets drier and hotter in the springtime before the rainy season starts in May).

I miss the smell of burning palm trees and the life that comes up afterwards, but I do wish the folks at the Dade-Collier airport had responsible adults in charge.

[live love laugh]

7. I smell a literal smoke screen.

The disasters and outliers seem to always be to their advantage and I’m sick of it being so obvious to me while most are oblivious.