| Gainesville Sun
(Editor’s note: This story will be updated as new information becomes available.)
Crews with the Florida Forest Service and Alachua County Fire Rescue are currently battling a 100-acre wildfire south of Hawthorne.
Due to the fire, County Road 325 west of Lochloosa Lake has been closed between County Road 346 and Southeast 152nd Lane.
The Forest Service originally reported that the fire was 2 to 3 acres in a swamp area but was “slowly spreading.” Officials reported at 3:30 p.m. that the fire had grown to more than 100 acres.
Residents that live within a three-mile radius of the fire were notified by a reverse 911 call. Evacuations have not been ordered.
The Florida Highway Patrol, working with the Forest Service and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, is monitoring the Interstate 75 and U.S. 441 area near Paynes Prairie for residual smoke.
Motorists traveling through the area may encounter significantly reduced visibility and are urged to use caution by slowing down, increasing following distance and using low‑beam headlights.
Officials warn that visibility can worsen quickly, especially at night and during early morning hours, as smoke mixes with moisture to create hazardous driving conditions.
