MIAMI – Nearly the entire eastern half of the Florida Peninsula is on alert for wildfires Thursday, prompting officials to urge residents once again to avoid outdoor burning.

The threat comes after US 1 Highway’s 18-Mile Stretch – the crucial travel artery to the Florida Keys – was shut down due to a wildfire at times on both Tuesday and Wednesday as wildfires burn in southern Miami-Dade County. Another fire started there on Wednesday afternoon.

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A video shared by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue shows crews driving through the flames and smoke during the emergency response, as well as helicopters battling the fire from above. The largest fire reached over 14,000 acres on Thursday and was only 20% contained, according to the Florida Forest Service.

Officials had warned residents in the region that smoke could drift into neighborhoods, leading to air quality issues.

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“It’s also spring break for many people across the country,” FOX Weather Meteorologist Craig Herrera said. “And many people go to this part of the country for spring break. So, whether you live there or you’re visiting, you know that this is a concern (Thursday).”

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has focused an elevated or critical wildfire risk on most of the eastern half of the Florida Peninsula, including millions of people from Orlando to Melbourne and southward through West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami.

In tandem, Fire Weather Warnings are in effect for several counties along Florida’s east coast from the Daytona Beach area south along Interstate 95 into Miami.

The FOX Forecast Center said a cold front associated with a powerful storm that brought blizzard conditions to the Plains and severe weather to the Midwest and Great Lakes on Wednesday will see strong winds and low relative humidity out ahead of it.

And with the lack of precipitation and the Sunshine State experiencing some drought conditions, that would allow for wildfires to quickly spread if one was to ignite.