Overview
- Florida Highway Patrol and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office shut State Road 20 and parts of County Road 315 early Wednesday after smoke reduced visibility to essentially zero.
- By late morning, authorities reported clearer conditions and reopened the roads, warning visibility could turn treacherous again after sunset and into Thursday morning.
- Robert H. Jenkins Jr. Elementary and Interlachen Junior-Senior High closed for the day, while Ochwilla and Melrose used parent drop-off as bus routes on the county’s west side were suspended.
- Florida Forest Service officials say thick smoke is coming from a lingering 314-acre wildfire about 75% contained, with fire smoldering in deep decaying vegetation and dried swamp beds despite few visible flames.
- Crews are monitoring containment lines around the clock, a county burn ban under a local emergency declaration is in effect, and residents are urged to follow alerts and take health precautions.