National

Fire Start, Size and Growth

Start Date/Time/Location: The National Fire ignited at 11:34 p.m. local time on Sunday, February 22, 2026 (initially named the Mile Marker 80 fire). It is located in the Big Cypress National Preserve in Collier County, Florida, approximately 25 miles east of Naples.
Size and Containment: As of the latest updates within the last 72 hours, the fire has burned 35,027 acres and successfully reached 100% containment on March 17, 2026.
Fuels, Growth and Rate of Spread: The fire was fueled by southern rough, grass, timber, and heavy brush that turned to kindling following past hurricanes and brutal winter freezes. It grew rapidly from 350 acres to over 24,000 acres within its first few days, driven by extreme drought and winds. Fire behavior is currently minimal, limited to creeping and smoldering of isolated logs and stumps.
Containment Efforts: Suppression efforts involved the National Park Service, local U.S. Wildland Fire Service personnel, and the Southern Area Gray Incident Management Team. Tactics included aerial water drops, engine crews, and mastication (roadside mowing) along trails. The estimated cost of fire suppression efforts to date exceeds $4.5 million.

Emergency Information

Evacuations and Sheltering:
Mandatory Evacuation Orders: There are currently no mandatory evacuation orders in place.
Evacuation Warnings: Earlier in the incident, voluntary evacuations were issued for the community of Jerome, and residents of Copeland were advised of possible evacuations. These have since been lifted.
Curfew: No curfews are currently reported.
Evacuation Shelters and Information: Residents can monitor the Big Cypress National Preserve and Collier County emergency management pages for any changes.

Road and Infrastructure Closures:

• Alligator Alley (I-75) between exits 23 and 80 (mile markers 65–85) experienced temporary shutdowns earlier in the fire due to dense smoke but has since reopened. Motorists are still urged to drive with caution using low beams at night if lingering smoke is present.
• Area closures were implemented for regions south of I-75, east of SR-29, north of US-41, and west of Turner River Road (including TRU 2, Concho Billie Trail, and Skillet North) for the safety of the public and fire personnel.

For more information, visit:

• Big Cypress National Preserve - Official Alerts
• Florida 511 - Live Traffic and Road Closures
• Florida Forest Service - Wildfire Information

Current Impact

Impacts:
Injuries and Fatalities: There have been no reported fatalities, and no firefighters or civilians have been injured by the fire.
Structures Impacted: While numerous residences were initially threatened, no structures have been damaged or destroyed.
School and Business Closures: No specific school closures were reported, though trails and sections of the Big Cypress National Preserve were closed to visitors.
Notable Impacts: The fire surpassed the size of the Sandy Fire that burned through the same area three years prior. The massive smoke plume previously impacted the Florida Heartland region, the Treasure Coast, and caused smog over Lake Okeechobee.

Safety Concerns:
Power Outages: There are no widespread power outages reported in connection with this fire.
Water Safety: No specific water safety concerns have been reported.
Burn Bans: Residents should adhere to any local Collier County or state-issued burn bans due to the underlying drought conditions.
Air Quality: While smoke production is currently low and localized, overnight smoke impacts on area roadways remain possible as heavy fuels continue to smolder. Residents with respiratory issues should monitor local air quality.

Ongoing Outlook

Containment Projections: The fire reached 100% containment on March 17, 2026. Remaining local firefighters continue to patrol and monitor the perimeter daily to ensure continued containment as scattered small areas of heat in interior pockets are consumed.
Weather and Wind Warnings: Fire activity significantly decreased following recent beneficial rainfall and improving drought conditions. East winds around 8-12 mph with gusts up to 22 mph are expected to persist, but the threat of spread remains low due to full containment.

Cause and the Role of Weather and Climate

Cause: The cause of the fire has been identified as human-caused and remains under investigation.
Weather and Climate: The fire was fueled by a record-breaking Level 3 "extreme" drought that covered more than two-thirds of the Florida Peninsula during the winter of 2025–2026. A lack of landfalling tropical cyclones in the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season contributed to this severe drought. Combined with a hard freeze in early February that killed off vegetation, the landscape was left with abundant dead fuel. These conditions, paired with 15–25 mph winds and humidity as low as 30%, created critical fire weather that drove the fire's initial rapid spread.

For more information, visit:

• Big Cypress National Preserve - Official Alerts
• Florida 511 - Live Traffic and Road Closures
• Florida Forest Service - Wildfire Information