News Release

Fire destroys Kirby Storter Boardwalk in Big Cypress National Preserve

Two firefighters work to stop the fire from spreading down Kirby Storter boardwalk

NPS Image

News Release Date: October 16, 2024

Contact: Scott Pardue, 239-695-1107

OCHOPEE, Fla. – On the evening of Oct. 14, a fire was reported on the Kirby Storter Boardwalk at mile marker 62 along the Tamiami Trail in Big Cypress National Preserve. The Greater Naples Fire Department was first on scene and used chainsaws and hand tools to create a firebreak in the boardwalk. The responders were able to hold the fire’s western advancement, but the flames traveling on the eastern portion of the raised walkway consumed most of the structure.
 
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, and the entire boardwalk and adjacent parking area is closed to the public at this time. At the conclusion of the investigation, National Park Service personnel will assess the damage and begin the arduous process of environmental cleanup and reconstruction of the boardwalk.
 
Kirby Storter boardwalk is one of the most popular visitor attractions in Big Cypress National Preserve. The elevated walkway meanders through Big Cypress grassland and leads visitors into a cypress dome, where the trail terminates at a pond popular with egrets, herons and nesting alligators.
 
Visitors to the Preserve can report incidents and suspicious behavior by calling the park’s 24-hour dispatch at 305-242-7740.
 
For more information about Big Cypress National Preserve visit nps.gov/BICY or follow the Preserve on Facebook or Instagram.