North Lauderdale Wildfire: What We Know So Far

A large Everglades brush fire west and northwest of Fort Lauderdale has burned tens of thousands of acres, and officials say it was likely sparked by lightning from severe thunderstorms. That is what we know so far.

According to CBS News Miami, the fire was not a confirmed blaze at 5951 NW 45th Ave itself, but a separate wildfire area inland that sent smoke drifting over Fort Lauderdale and western suburbs. CBS News Miami reported that the smoke affected air quality and visibility across Broward County.

The Florida Forest Service said the fire grew from two separate blazes, the Mile Marker 39 Fire and the Sawgrass Fire, which later merged. CBS News Miami reported that the primary fuel was sawgrass. In one update, the agency said the fire had burned nearly 20,000 acres by Wednesday afternoon, and later coverage said it grew to about 48,000 to 50,000 acres before it was fully contained.

No injuries were reported. WSVN reported that no one was hurt, and CBS News Miami said the fire had not impacted properties as of late Wednesday morning. Officials said it was far inland northwest of Fort Lauderdale.

Florida Forest Service supervisor Thom Coletti told CBS News Miami he witnessed lightning strikes while driving on U.S. 27 and believed they sparked the fires after severe thunderstorms the previous Monday evening. Michelle Danielson with the Florida Forest Service said the burn area was nearly twice the size of the Disney World Resort complex.

Emergency crews used heavy equipment and water airdrops to get the fire under control, according to the Florida Forest Service. Containment increased over time, reaching 90% in one update and 95% before full containment, CBS News Miami and WSVN reported. The Florida Forest Service later said the fire was fully contained and no longer appeared on its interactive fire map.

Broward's Natural Resource Division described county air quality as "unhealthy" because of particulate matter from the smoke. The National Weather Service warned that visibility could drop to 3 miles or less in the densest smoke and advised people sensitive to particulate matter to limit time outdoors, especially along I-75 and nearby roads.

Dispatch records show one similar brush fire incident in North Lauderdale in the past six months.

What's next: officials are expected to continue monitoring hot spots and smoke impacts, but the incident appears to be a natural ignition with no suspect information reported in the available coverage.

Day.News will continue to update this story as officials release more information.

Related: Brush Fire Ignites Near Residential Area at 5951 NW 45th Ave in North Lauderdale