Wildfire in Ocala National Forest prompts road closures

OCALA, Fla. — A 212-acre wildfire in the Mill Dam area of the Ocala National Forest along Southeast 180 Avenue has shut down State Road 40 at Country Road 314A and State Road 19 Friday, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The fire is 100 percent contained, said forestry officials.

FHP said drivers traveling east on State Road 40 will be detoured north onto CR-314A to SR-19, and then south on SR-19 to SR-40.

FHP said drivers traveling west on SR-40 will be detoured north on SR-19 to CR 314, and then south to either CR-314A or CR-314 to SR-40.

The fire was reported Thursday and the cause of the fire is still under investigation, but officials said they have an idea of how it started.

"As of right now, we know that it is human caused, point of origin, we haven't really tracked it down yet," said John Ramsey, fire management officer with the Ocala National Forest.

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Visibility is a major concern for drivers.

According to an FHP report, motorists are “advised to drive with their headlights on low beam and drive with extreme caution.”

FHP said smoke and fog conditions related to a wildfire might extend north and south of SR-40 on secondary roadways. The conditions have reduced visibility to zero in areas surrounding the wildfire and to less than 500 feet in other areas.

Residents said the smoke is what is bothering them the most.

"Allergies. My throat's raw, just breathing it all night, you couldn't keep it out of the house," said Pat Watson.

The report also said that “drivers should exercise caution while traveling on secondary roads in the area of the wildfire.”

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