The size and scope of the wildfire that’s been burning in the Big Cypress National Preserve for over a week didn’t change much on Monday after a half-inch of rain fell on the south side of the blaze Sunday, but none fell on the north end.
The National Fire remained at 35,034 acres burned and at 53 percent contained late Monday, according to a press briefing issued by the command structure of the wildfire.
“Area weather and environmental conditions are contributing to the difficulty of suppressing the National Fire,” the Southern Area Gray Incident Management Team wrote.
“Factors include lack of rainfall, ongoing drought, frost kill of vegetation, La Nina conditions, and multiple cold fronts with north winds. Elevated fire weather conditions are expected to continue.”
Last weekend, some of the more than 200 firefighters working the blaze took advantage of favorable weather and lit smaller backfires, fighting fire with fire by burning out areas that could cause trouble later.
