OCALA - Juniper Prairie wildfire reached 6,000 acres... fire continues to burn, and is now approx 40 percent contained.
A U.S. Forest Service statement released Saturday morning indicated the fire, which began Tuesday, was now 40 percent contained.
At about 6:45 a.m. Saturday, sheriff’s deputies, working in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service, closed long stretches of East SR 40 and State Road 19 through the Ocala National Forest because of smoke. The road closures were East SR 40, from County Road 314A to State Road 19, and SR 19, from SR 40 to Salt Springs.
Then, at 9:42 a.m., deputies reopened the roads for travel. Lt. Chesser said the busy roadways were clear enough for motorists to drive. He stressed that drivers should exercise caution while driving those roads.
Forest officials said Forest Road 65, Forest Road 46, Juniper Springs Campground, Juniper Creek Canoe Run, the Florida Trail within the Juniper Wilderness and the Yearling Trail remains closed.
Assisting the Sheriff’s Office with road closures were the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Highway Patrol.
Forest Service fights 3,600-acre fire with fire
(Original article posted 6:30 a.m.) State Road 19 will likely be closed today as firefighters conduct back burning to battle the wildfire in the Juniper Prairie Wilderness.
Firefighters have fought the blaze since Tuesday. It got started from an escaped campfire in tinder-dry conditions in the Ocala National Forest and has grown to 3,600 acres.
U.S. Forest Service fire manager Mike Drayton said the forecast he's working with calls for winds to shift direction from a southern flow to a southwestern flow.
He said firefighters will continue their burnout operations - fighting fire with fire - around the perimeter, mostly from the northwest, which is along Forest Road 33 and Forest Road 46, to the northeast corner at Forest Road 46 and SR 19.
On Saturday, Drayton said, firefighters will try to burn out a part of the eastern perimeter, from Juniper Run to the north, and plan on burning the east side along SR 19. That more than likely will shut down the highway from East SR 40 north to Salt Springs, he said.
"The goal is to try and bring the fire in the middle so it will either burn itself out or we receive some heavy rainfall," Drayton said.
Friday on Forest Road 46 off SR 19, the smoke was thick and firefighters could be seen doing back burning using torches and incendiary balls fired from special guns. The fire-starting ping pong-sized balls also were dropped from helicopters to help start the burnouts.
On other areas, the helicopters dropped hundreds of gallons of water to fight the wildfire.
Paul Jarnedoe, with the U.S. Forest Service out of Osceola County, was one of several firefighters patrolling the area along Forest Road 46, making sure the fire stayed within its boundaries.
If the flames start to jump the road, he said, they'll use whatever resources available to keep them from doing so.
Jarnedoe said that on Thursday night by Forest Road 65, flames did jump the fire lines in spots, because of a sea breeze that picked up. However, firefighters were able to put those fires out.
"If everything goes according to plan," Drayton said, "the burnout should take a couple of days to complete. But as far as the wildfire is concerned, it is going to depend on the rain."
According to a U.S. Forest Service news release, the wildfire started from an escaped campfire. Three people were cited for allowing their campfire to escape.
"Interviews revealed that the fire was not intentionally set," the news release states. "Recently, two other fires on the Ocala National Forest were also determined to have started from escaped campfires."
The Forest Service has since restricted campfires because of the dry conditions.
Forest Service spokeswoman Heather Callahan said those campers were issued notices involving a Class B misdemeanor. The crime, she said, carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail or a $5,000 fine.
A news release issued Friday morning said firefighters were preparing to protect Sweetwater Cabin on the east side of the fire.
Forest Road 33 and Forest Road 46 were closed, as were Juniper Springs Campground, Juniper Creek Canoe Run, the Florida Trail within the Juniper Wilderness and the Yearling Trail.
East SR 40 was closed for about 45 minutes Friday morning because of smoke and fog.
At Juniper Wayside on East SR 40, winter residents Erric and Laura Saben said they visit the national forest twice a year for its scenic beauty, trails and springs.
They had pulled into Juniper Wayside hoping to relax. Instead, an official told them that area of the forest was closed.
"We hope it will be open soon so we can enjoy the scenery," Laura Saben said. They're expecting friends on March 25 and want to take them sight-seeing.
A U.S. Forest Service statement released Saturday morning indicated the fire, which began Tuesday, was now 40 percent contained.
At about 6:45 a.m. Saturday, sheriff’s deputies, working in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service, closed long stretches of East SR 40 and State Road 19 through the Ocala National Forest because of smoke. The road closures were East SR 40, from County Road 314A to State Road 19, and SR 19, from SR 40 to Salt Springs.
Then, at 9:42 a.m., deputies reopened the roads for travel. Lt. Chesser said the busy roadways were clear enough for motorists to drive. He stressed that drivers should exercise caution while driving those roads.
Forest officials said Forest Road 65, Forest Road 46, Juniper Springs Campground, Juniper Creek Canoe Run, the Florida Trail within the Juniper Wilderness and the Yearling Trail remains closed.
Assisting the Sheriff’s Office with road closures were the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Highway Patrol.
Forest Service fights 3,600-acre fire with fire
(Original article posted 6:30 a.m.) State Road 19 will likely be closed today as firefighters conduct back burning to battle the wildfire in the Juniper Prairie Wilderness.
Firefighters have fought the blaze since Tuesday. It got started from an escaped campfire in tinder-dry conditions in the Ocala National Forest and has grown to 3,600 acres.
U.S. Forest Service fire manager Mike Drayton said the forecast he's working with calls for winds to shift direction from a southern flow to a southwestern flow.
He said firefighters will continue their burnout operations - fighting fire with fire - around the perimeter, mostly from the northwest, which is along Forest Road 33 and Forest Road 46, to the northeast corner at Forest Road 46 and SR 19.
On Saturday, Drayton said, firefighters will try to burn out a part of the eastern perimeter, from Juniper Run to the north, and plan on burning the east side along SR 19. That more than likely will shut down the highway from East SR 40 north to Salt Springs, he said.
"The goal is to try and bring the fire in the middle so it will either burn itself out or we receive some heavy rainfall," Drayton said.
Friday on Forest Road 46 off SR 19, the smoke was thick and firefighters could be seen doing back burning using torches and incendiary balls fired from special guns. The fire-starting ping pong-sized balls also were dropped from helicopters to help start the burnouts.
On other areas, the helicopters dropped hundreds of gallons of water to fight the wildfire.
Paul Jarnedoe, with the U.S. Forest Service out of Osceola County, was one of several firefighters patrolling the area along Forest Road 46, making sure the fire stayed within its boundaries.
If the flames start to jump the road, he said, they'll use whatever resources available to keep them from doing so.
Jarnedoe said that on Thursday night by Forest Road 65, flames did jump the fire lines in spots, because of a sea breeze that picked up. However, firefighters were able to put those fires out.
"If everything goes according to plan," Drayton said, "the burnout should take a couple of days to complete. But as far as the wildfire is concerned, it is going to depend on the rain."
According to a U.S. Forest Service news release, the wildfire started from an escaped campfire. Three people were cited for allowing their campfire to escape.
"Interviews revealed that the fire was not intentionally set," the news release states. "Recently, two other fires on the Ocala National Forest were also determined to have started from escaped campfires."
The Forest Service has since restricted campfires because of the dry conditions.
Forest Service spokeswoman Heather Callahan said those campers were issued notices involving a Class B misdemeanor. The crime, she said, carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail or a $5,000 fine.
A news release issued Friday morning said firefighters were preparing to protect Sweetwater Cabin on the east side of the fire.
Forest Road 33 and Forest Road 46 were closed, as were Juniper Springs Campground, Juniper Creek Canoe Run, the Florida Trail within the Juniper Wilderness and the Yearling Trail.
East SR 40 was closed for about 45 minutes Friday morning because of smoke and fog.
At Juniper Wayside on East SR 40, winter residents Erric and Laura Saben said they visit the national forest twice a year for its scenic beauty, trails and springs.
They had pulled into Juniper Wayside hoping to relax. Instead, an official told them that area of the forest was closed.
"We hope it will be open soon so we can enjoy the scenery," Laura Saben said. They're expecting friends on March 25 and want to take them sight-seeing.
