Vandals Torch Key West’s Southernmost Point Landmark

The Miami Herald reports:

In the early hours of New Year’s Day, two people vandalized Key West’s famous Southernmost Point buoy landmark by setting a fire right beside it. The blaze left a large part of the colorful giant buoy — right where it reads “90 miles to Cuba, Southernmost Point, Continental U.S.A.” — charred.

There was “extensive damage” to the buoy after the fire set between 3 and 3:30 a.m., police spokeswoman Alyson Crean said in a statement early Saturday morning.

Police already have clues: a webcam run by the local marketing company Two Oceans Digital captured the scene of two males apparently placing a discarded Christmas tree in front of the buoy and setting it on fire.

Read the full article. The landmark was restored in 2017 after suffering damage during Hurricane Irma. The live webcam this morning shows tourists posing as usual before the now-charred landmark. Watch here.