The Overseas Highway — the only route connecting the Florida Keys — was closed for about four hours early Monday while firefighters fought a massive fire that engulfed a one-acre lot filled with wooden lobster traps.
No one was injured in the fire. The fire destroyed at least three lobster boats, a house, six propane-powered forklifts, several trap shacks and about 20,000 lobster traps, according to a press release from Monroe County. Damage is likely to be more than $1 million.
Marathon Fire-Rescue and Monroe County Fire-Rescue responded to a call about a boat fire at 2:30 a.m. about fire at mile marker 47.5.
By the time they arrived, the fire had also reached a house on the property and the trap yard, according a press release from Monroe County.
U.S. 1 was closed in both directions at about 3 a.m. to connect fire hoses to water supplies on the other side of the highway, according to the press release. The fire was contained about 5:30 a.m.
The road was re-opened with alternating traffic at about 7 a.m. Just before 8 a.m., the Monroe County Sheriff's Office reported traffic was open in both directions and flowing smoothly.
The Marathon fire marshal, state fire marshal and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are all investigating the cause of the fire.
