Courtesy photos / With at least four active wild fires, including a large one in the Maytown Road area, shown here, at and at least half a dozen still simmering for several days, firefighters throughout Volusia County continue to work them this morning.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- James Arlotta loves to take his early run on the beach, but not this morning.
"The air is full of smoke," the 54-year-old beachside resident said. "I was out in the smoke all day yesterday and it bothered my eyes and breathing. So when I got up this morning and went outside the smoke was so thick I didn't think it would be healthy to run in."
Smoke is everywhere and driving is particularly hazardous on the interstates.
Firefighters from the Division of Forestry, Volusia County Fire Services, and additional task force teams of city firefighters, continue to work four active fires on this Thursday morning while monitoring several other fires closely, with mop up as needed, throughout Volusia County.
"There are no evacuations at this time," Volusia County spokeswoman Joanne Magley told NSBNews.net at 7:30 a.m.
"All roads are open. Concentrations of smoke will remain at ground level at times throughout much of Volusia County."
Residents are reminded to call 9-1-1 if they observe active flames or heavy columns of smoke, but they should not report widespread or generally smoky conditions. Due to widespread smoke, drivers are encouraged to use extreme caution and drive with their headlights on.
Here is the latest information on the fires:
· SR40/11, west of Ormond Beach Approx 80 acres – active
· Old Oak Circle, Pierson 2-3 Acres - active
· Maytown Road, Osteen 1,200 acres – lines mostly drawn, active
· Beacon Light , Oak Hill 35 acres – lines being established, no active fire
· I-95 Possum Camp (RonJon), Edgewater 5-6 acres – lines drawn, fire within lines
· 442 W. Possum Camp Road, New Smyrna Beach 7 acres – lines drawn with active fire inside lines, mop up
· Daytona Park Estates (Larkspur), DeLand 350 acres – mop up · Weaver Push 2, east of Osteen 2.5 acres – mop up Shellcracker Rd, Lake Harney Woods 2 acres – mop up
· Cowcreek Road, Edgewater 1 acres – mopped up · Plantation Drive, Ormond Beach 50x50 – mopped up
· ISB, DeLand (West Parkway and U.S. 92) .25 acres – mopped up The S.R. 40/ S.R. 11 fire is approximately 60 acres.
As firefighters work to contain the fire, S.R. 40 is shut down between S.R. 11 and Rodeo Rd. State Road 11 is shut down from Clifton Cemetery Road to S.R. 40. Three homes were voluntarily evacuated along S.R. 40.
A new fire has been identified at Old Bubbly and Shell Harbor roads (947 Old Oak Circle, Pierson. Land Management tractors are on scene. No homes are threatened. The fire is approximately two acres.
Mop up continues on the Maytown Road fire. Maytown Road remains closed from Gobblers Lodge Road east to Bell Ridge Road west. The fire area runs along both sides of Maytown Road, with numerous damaged trees that pose a significant hazard to motorists as well as limited visibility from the smoke.
As firefighters work 10 active fires throughout the county, residents should follow directions of local officials as emergency conditions warrant.
Residents are advised call 9-1-1 to report flames, but not smoke.
Daytona Beach International Airport on Wednesday had some cancelled and delayed flights due to the smoke. Most aircraft require visibility of 2.5 miles. Visibility at the airport was 1.5 miles.
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