Published on Wednesday, May 31, 2006
in the Gainesville Sun

Intermittent closures continue on I-95

TITUSVILLE - Blinding smoke from brush fires and morning fog continue to disrupt Interstate 95 and other East Central Florida roads.

Sections of I-95, State Road 520 and State Road 50 were closed several times between Sunday and Tuesday due to heavy smoke and fog.

All three roads were open Tuesday afternoon, but authorities made no promises they would stay that way.

"All we're telling people is to expect delays," Florida Highway Patrol trooper Kim Miller said. "We're not taking any chances. As soon as visibility drops, we shut it down."

Visibility problems are worst between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., she said.

Sections of I-95 have been closed intermittently for weeks because thick smoke from several fires mixed with morning fog, making it impossible to see the road and causing dozens of accidents.

Four people have died in smoke-related automobile accidents across the state this year.

Firefighters reported progress Tuesday in containing the main 1,400-acre blaze near Titusville.

The fire was started by a lightning strike Sunday.

More than 2,800 wildfires have burned about 110,000 acres in Florida since Jan. 1, according to the state Division of Forestry.