[15 mins to wdw]

Well I was visitng some family at the beach club tonight watching the news about to head out to epcot. Right before this I thought I saw smoke outside, but didn't think anything of it. Well turns out there is a decent size fire going at the intersection of 192 and 429 this is only a few miles off disney property. I took a back road out tonight I was proably within 1/2 a mile of the fire. I took a few pictures but the camera is still in my car.

For those of you familiar with the area this fire is basically right in front of the orange lake resort and it looks to close to my old apt complex. The wind has shifted a few times.



On the opposite side of the spectrum from a wildfire we might be getting a tropical storm (possibly a low catagory hurricane) early to mid next week. Its just starting to form in the gulf and there are several tracks but one does take it across the north side of central FL. Its very early with this one and there not really sure where its going, but it could threaten anywhere from Mexico to the FL keys. IF IT STAYS A TROPICAL WAVE OR LESS IT WOULD BE NICE TO GET HIT BY IT, HERE IN FL IT WOULD PUT THE FIRES OUT AND STOP THEM FOR A GOOD LONG TIME. I'll try to keep you all updated on these events.

[vlogilvie]

How common are these large wildfires? How big do they get?

[catfish1999]

Thanks for keeping us updated. Please continue to do so.

[15 mins to wdw]

My family was telling me they saw 3 large ones flying in. The biggest one we had this year was several hundred acres but it was in the middle of nowhere this one is proably 20 to 25 acres, but this same fire a year and half ago would have been 10 times worse becuase there was no road to get to the fire and the trees were to close together to get anything to it. Now 429 isn't 100% done but its good enough for forest fire trucks and fire engines.


Ah were getting 1 to 3 fires a day now, its been expected and this is a bad year, and will be. We knew this was coming after getting hit with 3 hurricanes back to back all the fuel for the fire was set that year, now its getting burned off, and FL was prepared for this.

This current fire I think was cuased by lighting a few days ago, it takes of few days of being left alone after a lighting strike to find out about a fire and by then there going. I saw several strikes in this area mid week and kinda had a feeling but had forgotten about it till today.

[palmickey]

Keep us posted and stay safe and away from those fires.

[CathysCAT]

Originally Posted by 15 mins to wdw

On the opposite side of the spectrum from a wildfire we might be getting a tropical storm (possibly a low catagory hurricane) early to mid next week. Its just starting to form in the gulf and there are several tracks but one does take it across the north side of central FL.

OMG! A possible tropical storm! Not mid next week, please. When I read this my heart skipped a beat. That's when we fly down.

I hope you do get some rain to put out the wild fires, that must be aweful seeing smoke nearby. But please, not a tropical storm or worse.

Keeping my fingers crossed for all who are travelling soon.

[Dana]

Please keep us posted and stay safe! TO all those going next week, I hope the tropical storms aren't enough to cancel or ruin a trip. I do hope they get something to keep these fires under control however.

[Pooh Fan]

Please keep us posted. Hopefully the fires get under control soon.

[Amelia's Man]

Originally Posted by 15 mins to wdw

Well I was visitng some family at the beach club tonight watching the news about to head out to epcot. Right before this I thought I saw smoke outside, but didn't think anything of it. Well turns out there is a decent size fire going at the intersection of 192 and 429 this is only a few miles off disney property. I took a back road out tonight I was proably within 1/2 a mile of the fire. I took a few pictures but the camera is still in my car.

For those of you familiar with the area this fire is basically right in front of the orange lake resort and it looks to close to my old apt complex. The wind has shifted a few times.



On the opposite side of the spectrum from a wildfire we might be getting a tropical storm (possibly a low catagory hurricane) early to mid next week. Its just starting to form in the gulf and there are several tracks but one does take it across the north side of central FL. Its very early with this one and there not really sure where its going, but it could threaten anywhere from Mexico to the FL keys. IF IT STAYS A TROPICAL WAVE OR LESS IT WOULD BE NICE TO GET HIT BY IT, HERE IN FL IT WOULD PUT THE FIRES OUT AND STOP THEM FOR A GOOD LONG TIME. I'll try to keep you all updated on these events.

Hey, stay safe and please keep us updated!

[15 mins to wdw]

According to this mornings update they NO LONGER expect this storm to reach tropical storm status, and they are projecting it that Orlando should be clear of the brunt of the storm we will get a good soaking possibly from it. The track that had it coming at Orlando has shifted and has it hitting more around gainsville or farther west. The tracks really haven't come together yet to get a good idea what it will do.

As for the fire it sounds like they got it pretty well under control overnight, I'm about to head to work. I'm still leaving a 1/2 hour early cuase I'm not sure what roads are open and there are no real reports about that at 4:45am.

[mickaholic4077]

Us 192 right now closed at SR 429. SR 429 is closed at Hartzog Road. The roads will reopen when visibility improves. This is according to Central Florida News 13 which I am watching right now(1:07 pm Eastern Daylight Time).

[sandanv1]

Everything is so dry here. There was a small fire a few houses from me, started by a hot car parked on the dry grass. it was caught before it got out of control.
And, It amazes me how many people I see toss cigarettes out their windows. Eyeryone needs to take care.

[Erin]

Yes!! Pet Peeve: Tossing your cig out the window! You SMOKE, use your ASHTRAY!

It's SO dry...so, so, so, so crazy dry here. For those of you who remember the firestorm of 98, we don't need a repeat. I had ashes on my car everyday, and I couldn't even get to work. The road was closed because of fire.

[rosebud]

I thought I saw smoke yesterday. I don't know my way around well enough yet though to find out about it! Thank you for the updates!!

[NokeyNose]

We haven't seen the sun for a whole day in like two weeks here in CT! I wish we could send our rainy days down to FL for a few days! Not that I wish to ruin anyones time at WDW or anything, but I think FL just is in need of some good rain, and we here in CT are in need of some good FL Sunshine!!!!!