MARION COUNTY, Fla. – Heavy smoke from a brush fire forced officials to close S.R. 19 south of Salt Springs on Saturday as firefighters worked to contain the blaze, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
The fire is burning about five miles south of Salt Springs in the Ocala National Forest, east of S.R. 19 along Lake George, according to officials. Smoke is impacting visibility on the roadway, and law enforcement is on scene monitoring traffic and warning drivers to heed posted signs. Officials also added that travel north from S.R. 40 is restricted.
Recommended Videos
Boaters on Lake George were also urged to avoid the area as helicopters conduct water‑dip operations.
The Florida Highway Patrol offered the following detours to avoid the road closures in the area:
- State Road 19 – Northbound: Motorists wishing to head northbound along S.R. 19 will be directed to turn left (west) onto S.R 40, turn right onto C.R. 314A, and turn right onto Salt Springs Highway (C.R.314) before reaching S.R. 19.
- State Road 19 – Southbound: Motorists wishing to head southbound along S.R.19 will be directed to turn right (west) onto Salt Springs Highway (C.R. 314), turn left onto C.R. 314A, and turn left onto S.R. 40 before reaching S.R. 19.
U.S. Forest Service said they are actively engaged on the fire, with resources including two engines, two dozers, an Interagency Wildland Fire Module, an Interagency Hotshot Crew, the Smokey Helitack ground crew, two helicopters and an air‑attack command ship. Additional resources have been ordered.
Crews have established a dozer line around the perimeter and are using localized firing tactics to keep the fire within that footprint. The fire is estimated at roughly 75 acres as of 6 p.m.
Operations are expected to continue through the night, officials said.
“Ignition was determined to be human caused, accidental,” the U.S. Forest Service said in their statement.