Florida Everglades wildfire almost doubles in size in a day

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - A wildfire in the Florida Everglades has almost doubled in size in the past day and briefly shut down a portion of Alligator Alley.

The Florida Forest Service on Tuesday tweeted that the blaze had grown to more than 32,000 acres and is only about a third contained.

The wildfire is located about 8 miles west of the city of Weston.

Florida Forest Service officials confirmed lightning started the wildfire Sunday night just north of a busy stretch of Interstate 75 known as Alligator Alley and a few miles west of a state highway.

By Tuesday afternoon, the Florida Highway Patrol had to close Alligator Alley from mile marker 80 (State Road 29)  in Collier County to mile marker 23 (U.S. 27) in Broward County due to visibility, but reopened it shortly after.

No buildings were in immediate danger.