Smoke Looms Over Florida

As many Floridian awoke this morning, a thick haze and the smell of smoke blanketed the state. Those with breathing problems, such as asthma, were warned to stay indoors as much of Florida's air quality is categorized as "unhealthy". Others were advised to limit their time outdoors. Sporting events were canceled. From Tampa International Airport, the smoky haze was so thick, it was hard to see nearby skyscrapers. Schools in Hillsborough County held recess and gym classes indoors as a precaution. The smoke could be smelled across Central Florida, even by those indoors.

It has been yet another dry year, fueling hundreds of wildfires from South Georgia through Southwest Florida. And with a low pressure system sitting off the Atlantic coast, winds have only added to the problem. These same winds carried smoke from a huge fire in southeast Georgia to Central Florida. Another enormous fire at the Volusia/Flagler county line has produced enough smoke to be seen on satellite radar. This particular area was a hot spot back in 1998, which was a record-breaking year for wildfires. Sunday's thunderstorms contained lightning that sparked many new fires.

Adding to the headache, Tampa Fire Rescue had a busy morning taking calls from concerned residents. Most were wondering about all the smoke. According to a NewsChannel 8 report, calls started coming in at 7 a.m. but tapered off by early afternoon.

Many people are just hoping for some relief. But with no rain in sight, relief may be hard to find. It is important that people take precautions as to not escalate the problem. Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson has placed a ban on the burning of yard waste by homeowners.

And just today, according to Tampa's NewsChannel 8 reporter Jackie Barron, a cigarette believed to be thrown into the median of I-75 near Fruitville Road in Sarasota County sparked a fire that has scorched more than 100 acre and caused about 24 people to be evacuated. Winds blew the fire east and west of the interstate, causing all north and some south bound lanes to be closed for several hours. Sarasota County fire officials have been able to contain about 80% of the blaze.

From January 1 through May 7 of this year, over 195,000 acres have been burned by wildfires. According to www.aroundcentralflorida.com, over 500,000 acres were burned from June 1 to July 22, 1998 and 350 homes and businesses were destroyed or damaged. In 1998, over 10,000 firefighters from 47 states helped battle Florida's wildfire problem.