Alligator Alley, Florida – A fast-moving wildfire ignited near the western edge close to the Immokalee exit on February 24, 2026, sending flames and heavy smoke directly toward eastbound traffic on Interstate 75.

The footage, recorded from inside a Tesla Model Y, shows the highway cutting through sawgrass and cypress swamp beneath a hazy orange sky. Without warning, bright orange flames burst from dry brush and palmettos beyond the guardrail on the right shoulder.

The fire races along the ground, at times surging 10 to 15 feet into the air. Thick black and gray smoke pours across the roadway, drifting straight toward the moving vehicle and sharply reducing visibility.

As the car continues at highway speed, flames appear dangerously close to the pavement in several spots. Embers spin through the wind while towering smoke columns blanket all lanes, turning the sky a dark orange-brown.

The vehicle’s center touchscreen displays “Biodefense Mode” engaged, with the HEPA filtration system operating at full capacity as exterior air quality readings spike into the hazardous range.

The camera shakes slightly while the driver maintains course through the smoke. The blaze runs parallel to the road for nearly the full 55 seconds, with other vehicles ahead briefly vanishing into the haze.

The wildfire, identified as the “National Fire,” is part of a pair of blazes burning in Big Cypress National Preserve. Officials reported the fire had already consumed between 15,000 and 25,000 acres with zero percent containment, pushing smoke and flames up to Alligator Alley and forcing motorists to navigate perilous conditions. The video was captured around 5:15 p.m.

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