NPS - National Park Service
08/24/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/25/2026 06:54
Everglades National Park lifted the emergency closure for the Shark Valley District at 1 p.m. on Aug. 24. All public and administrative use of the area may resume after the[...]
News Release Date:
August 24, 2026
August 24, 2026
Contact: Media Contact, 786-897-1053
Contact: Park Information, 305-242-7700
HOMESTEAD, Fla. - Everglades National Park lifted the emergency closure for the Shark Valley District at 1 p.m. on Aug. 24. All public and administrative use of the area may resume after the closure from wildfires in the area.
The Chipmunk Fire has burned approximately 17,000 acres and is 60% contained. Fire activity is currently occurring in sawgrass prairie approximately six miles south-southwest of the Shark Valley Observation Tower.
The Vulture Fire, at 347 acres, and the Movie Dome Fire, at 6,207 acres, are both 100% contained.
U.S. Wildland Fire Service firefighters continue to suppress and monitor the Chipmunk Fire.
For updated fire information and park status, visit Everglades National Park's Current Conditions page:nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/conditions.
NPS - National Park Service published this content on August 24, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on August 25, 2026 at 12:54 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]