News Release

ATF, National Park Service, and Florida Department of Financial Services offer $10,000 Reward on Information Related to Fires at Everglades National Park

Intentionally set fires along Main Park Road in Spring 2021.

NPS photo

News Release Date: May 20, 2021

Contact: NPS: Allyson Gantt, 786-610-8023

Contact: ATF: Clara S. Himel, 954-856-1959

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Everglades National Park, and the Florida Department of Financial Services Bureau of Fire, Arson, & Explosives are offering a reward up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person/persons responsible for the human-caused fires that have occurred in Everglades National Park. Within the last three months, there have been numerous fires intentionally set in the vicinity of the main park road (State Road 9336) and adjacent roads of Everglades National Park. These areas are easily accessed through the Homestead entrance of the park. 

In addition to potentially damaging park resources and endangering park visitors and staff, these fires have cost the park hundreds of thousands of dollars for suppression. As south Florida enters into the driest part of the year, the risk of damaging wildfire increases.

Anyone with any information about these crimes should contact any of the following: 
ATF: 1-888-ATF-FIRE (1-888-283-3473) 
National Park Services Investigative Services Tip Line: 1-888-653-0009 
Florida Department of Financial Services: 1-877-NO-ARSON (1-877-662-7766)

For photos and video, please see the album on Everglades National Park’s Flickr site: 2021 Human-caused wildfire near Sisal Pond

About Everglades National Park:
Everglades National Park protects the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States with 1.5 million acres of sawgrass prairie, pine rockland, hardwood forest, mangrove estuary, and Florida Bay. Established in 1947 as the first national park created for its biodiversity, the park is home to critically threatened and endangered species including the Florida panther, the American crocodile and the West Indian manatee. The Everglades is also the main source of drinking water for residents of South Florida. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

About ATF:
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is a highly specialized agency within the Department of Justice whose mission is to prevent, interrupt and remove violent crime from American communities. ATF investigates and recommends for prosecution crimes involving firearms, arson and explosives. The Miami Field Division works with local, state and federal law enforcement and public safety organizations to combat violent crime in Southeast Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Everglades National Park, and the Florida Department of Financial Services Bureau of Fire, Arson, & Explosives are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading up to the arrest and conviction of the person/persons responsible for the human-caused fires in Everglades National Park.

Graphic courtesy of ATF