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Honestly, if you woke up this morning in Fort Lauderdale or Hollywood and thought the air smelled a little "off," you aren't imagining things. There is a lot happening with fire in Broward County today, and while we aren't seeing a massive 50,000-acre inferno like the one that choked out the Sawgrass last August, the situation is still pretty active.
South Florida is currently in the middle of its peak fire season. It basically starts in early January and runs for about three months. We've seen a spike in high-confidence fire alerts lately. In fact, between early 2025 and right now in January 2026, the numbers are actually higher than they've been in over a decade.
The Smoke Smell in Broward Today
Most of what people are smelling right now across Pompano Beach and Davie isn't necessarily a new emergency.
The Florida Forest Service has been busy. Just a few days ago, they launched a 117-acre prescribed burn labeled SEA SE-1 Rx right here in Broward. They do these "controlled" burns to clear out the dry brush and sawgrass before Mother Nature decides to light it on fire herself with a lightning strike.
It’s a bit of a "pick your poison" situation. You either deal with a little smoke now during a planned burn, or you deal with a massive wall of black smoke later when a wildfire gets out of hand.
Still, the air quality index (AQI) has been hovering in that annoying "Moderate" zone. If you have asthma or just hate the smell of a campfire in your living room, you've probably already closed your windows.
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Why the Everglades Keep Burning
The Everglades are basically a giant pile of fuel.
When the water levels drop in the winter, that sawgrass turns into tinder. Last year, we saw the Mile Marker 39 Fire and the Sawgrass Fire merge into a monster that was twice the size of Disney World. It was a mess.
Today’s situation is more controlled, but the Florida Forest Service is still on high alert because the ground is unusually dry for January. Even a tossed cigarette on I-75 (Alligator Alley) can spark a brush fire that moves faster than Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue can chase it.
Active Calls and Local Incidents
If you're hearing sirens, it might not be a forest fire.
Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue (BSFR) and Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue have stayed slammed this week with "routine" but dangerous calls. For example, just a few days ago on January 6, crews had to rush to a high-rise near Eisenhower Boulevard. A woman ended up in the hospital with serious burns after a fire sparked in an apartment there.
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Then you have the weird stuff.
There was a shooting at the Marriott on North Andrews Avenue where fire rescue had to stage nearby until police cleared the scene to treat a victim. It’s a reminder that "fire rescue" in Broward covers a lot more than just actual flames. They are the first ones on the scene for almost every trauma in the county.
Current "Red Flag" Status
Is there a burn ban?
Right now, Broward isn't under a strict county-wide burn ban like some of the counties up north (think Highlands or Polk), but the fire danger index is climbing.
- Humidity: Dropping into the 30% range in the afternoons.
- Wind: Shifting from the northwest, which is why the smoke from the Glades is drifting into the suburbs.
- Fuel: Sawgrass and brush are at "critical" dryness levels.
How to Stay Safe When the Smoke Hits
If the smoke from fire in Broward County today gets thick, don't just "tough it out."
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The particles in wildfire smoke are tiny. Like, 2.5 microns tiny. They get deep into your lungs and can even enter your bloodstream. It's not great.
If you're driving on the Sawgrass Expressway or I-75, keep your AC on recirculate. If you pull in outside air, you’re just vacuuming the smoke into your car. Also, keep your headlights on. Smoke can drop visibility from five miles to fifty feet in about ten seconds when the wind shifts.
What to Watch For
Check the SaferWatch app or follow the Florida Forest Service (Everglades District) on social media. They are usually the first to post when a new plume of smoke pops up on the radar.
Most of the "fire" activity right now is proactive management. But in Florida, things change fast. A single afternoon thunderstorm with "dry lightning" (lightning without much rain) can change a quiet Wednesday into a massive emergency.
Actionable Next Steps for Residents
- Check your AQI: Use AirNow.gov to see if the smoke in your specific zip code is hitting "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" levels.
- Service your HVAC: Ensure your home air filters are rated MERV 13 or higher if you live near the western edge of the county.
- Clear your "Defensible Space": If your property backs up to a canal or a patch of woods, clear out dead palm fronds and dry brush now.
- Stay Informed: If you see a large plume of smoke, don't call 911 just to "ask what's happening." Use the PulsePoint app to see active fire department dispatches in real-time.
The fire risk in Broward is a part of life in the subtropics. We live in a place that is designed by nature to burn every few years. As long as the wind keeps blowing and the grass keeps drying out, we've got to stay vigilant.
Keep your windows shut if you smell smoke, and keep an eye on the western horizon.