National 2026

WEBSITE ANNOUCEMENT: The Southern Area Incident Management Gray Team is no longer in command of the fire, and this website is no longer being monitored. Please see the official Big Cypress National Preserve website at www.nps.gov/BICY for updates on the fire including area closures. If you have additional questions, please contact the Big Cypress National Preserve duty officer at 561-923-5228.

The National Fire is burning within the Big Cypress National Preserve, approximately 25 miles east of Naples, Florida. It was discovered late on Sunday, February 22. The cause is unknown and under investigation. Initial attack efforts were unsuccessful due to rapid spread in difficult terrain. Local U.S. Wildland Fire Service fire managers transferred command of the fire to the Southern Area Gray Incident Management Team, led by Incident Commander Fulton Jeansonne, at 6:00 am on Thursday, February 26, 2026. On Monday, March 9th, 2026 command of the fire will be transferred back to the local unit. 

The fire is being managed under a full suppression strategy utilizing both direct and indirect tactics, including both ground firefighters and aerial resources. 

Area weather and environmental conditions are contributed to the difficulty of suppressing the National Fire. Factors include lack of rainfall, ongoing Stage 3 drought, recent frost kill of some vegetation, La Nina conditions, and multiple cold fronts with north winds.

The National Fire is burning in sawgrass prairies, pinelands, hardwood hammocks and cypress swamps.

SPECIAL NOTE: The National Fire location as shown on the main INCIWeb map contains an error. See the February 28 information map in the "maps" section for the current map. The fire is entirely east of SR-29. There is no fire west of SR-29.