District Six TSM&O Office Supports Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties During Wildfires

The District Six Transportation Systems Management & Operations (TSM&O) Office played a critical role in supporting emergency response efforts during two significant wildfires that led to extended road closures in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties.

The first wildfire began on March 18, 2025, near Card Sound Road, resulting in a full roadway closure for three days. As the wildfire rapidly spread to the west, it affected State Road 5/US 1 along the 18-mile Stretch which caused intermittent full closures that totaled eleven hours. A second wildfire occurred on May 8, 2025 in the same area, again forcing closures on both routes. These events had widespread impacts, as US 1 is the primary access point to the Florida Keys. Card Sound Road serves as the main alternate route for the 18-mile Stretch between Key Largo and Florida City. These closures temporarily blocked public access to and from the Keys, which impacted mobility and safety in the area.

Throughout both incidents, the SunGuide Transportation Management Center (STMC) staff coordinated with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, Florida Highway Patrol, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, and the District Six Emergency Operations Center to share real-time traffic camera feeds and issue live updates. STMC Operators posted information on the dynamic message signs and published alerts through Florida 511 to ensure timely communication with the public and key stakeholders.

The coordinated response helped mitigate the effects of the closures and ensured that real-time information was delivered to the traveling public and emergency agencies.