FLORIDA: Renewable Energy Plant Has Been On Fire For Nearly A Week, Causes ‘Unhealthy’ Air Quality

An enormous fire at a Florida renewable energy plant has been burning for five straight days.

The blaze, which started at the Covanta Energy plant in Doral, spread to multiple floors and produced enough smoke to cause a “shelter in place” advisory.

Miami-Dade officials urged residents to remain indoors.

WATCH:

🚨#BREAKING: A massive fire breaks out at a renewable energy plant EPA advises residents to “shelter in place”
⁰📌#Doral | #Florida

A Massive fire broke out at a renewable energy plant in Doral, Florida and has been burning for over 5 days straight, spreading to multiple… pic.twitter.com/sGM7Xd51xc

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) February 17, 2023

“As our @MiamiDadeFire first responders continue fighting the Doral waste plant fire, residents may experience increased smoky conditions around the site today. Out of an abundance of caution, & based on EPA guidance, we recommend all residents in the impacted area remain indoors,” Mayor Daniella Levine Cava tweeted.

As our @MiamiDadeFire first responders continue fighting the Doral waste plant fire, residents may experience increased smoky conditions around the site today. Out of an abundance of caution, & based on EPA guidance, we recommend all residents in the impacted area remain indoors. pic.twitter.com/rrKadcJtdd

— Daniella Levine Cava (@MayorDaniella) February 17, 2023

Miami-Dade County issued this press release:

MDFR staff are working tirelessly to put out the blaze, including performing a demolition now underway to create more access for firefighters to put out the fire. As the firefighters gain greater access to the center of the fire, we anticipate an increase in smoky conditions.

Out of an abundance of caution, and based on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommendations, we recommend that all residents residing between NW 74 St and NW 92 St, and NW 92 Ave to NW 112 Ave, remain indoors today, Friday, Feb. 17. Anyone with preexisting respiratory and cardiac conditions, as well as older adults, young children, and expectant mothers, should take extra precautions, such as wearing a mask if you need to be outdoors.

In anticipation of greater smoky conditions, Miami-Dade Public Schools will be communicating directly with the parents of students who attend school in the impacted area to communicate dismissal procedures

According to the EPA, the air quality reached “unhealthy” levels on two separate occasions on Wednesday.

Here’s additional footage:

Wake up America! Doral in Miami,FL, had a waste-to-energy facility mysteriously catch fire on Sunday, and it's still burning today. Doral is a high end Venezuelan community and Venezuelans don't vote for socialism. That's why Miami flipped to red.
**THREAD** 🧵👀👇🏽#LarpUnited pic.twitter.com/aMZS1nWjJJ

— BRIX (@brix_rosa) February 15, 2023

NBC 6 reported:

At a news conference, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Ray Jadallah said they temporarily suspended operations Friday morning for the demolition of a wall, which led to an increase in the smoky conditions.

In addition, out of an abundance of caution and based on EPA recommendations, Doral Glades Park and Doral Legacy Park are closed effective immediately until further notice, Doral city officials said. All outdoor programming and events at all other parks will be rescheduled to a later date. All Doral Building inspections scheduled for Friday will be rescheduled to Tuesday, February 21st.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools are also communicating directly to parents of schools in the affected area to provide dismissal procedures and further details.

At Ronald Reagan/Doral Senior High, parents were encouraged to pick up their children from school. If parents were unable to, students were being kept safely indoors for the remainder of the school day.