Lake Okeechobee fire
Lake Okeechobee fire covers Moore Haven in cloud of smoke
By
Jeremiah Jacobsen, WINK News
Story Created:
May 14, 2008 at 9:33 PM EST
Story Updated:
May 15, 2008 at 12:08 PM EST
MOORE HAVEN, Fla. - The fire in Lake Okeechobee that's sending smoke across Southwest Florida gave firefighters quite a scare Wednesday. It jumped a canal, putting people in Moore Haven at risk.
"With the wind, (it) pushed the fire to the north toward the two canals and it jumped the one canal and sent embers about the size of 50 cent pieces around," said Glades Co. EMS Director Bob Jones.
The Division of Forestry says the Lake Okeechobee fire grew to more than 11-thousand acres Wednesday, moving a half-mile in day's time, and putting the Moore Haven RV Park and Marina closest to flames. Crews were able to attack embers that jumped a canal surrounding the lake, but the fire in the lakebed continues to burn on its own.
"So far we haven't been able to put water on it because we can't get across the canals," Jones said.
The bigger problem for people living nearby is the smoke, covering Moore Haven in a thick cloud for two days in a row.
"A couple of my friends around here have done passed out from problems, they can't breathe and stuff because of the smoke," said Moore Haven resident DeWayne Phillips.
Fire crews say time and rain are basically the only things that can put out the blaze that's burning in the lakebed, since they really can't reach it except by air. For now, all they really can do is work to protect areas where people do live by trying to keep this from spreading.
Tuesday, Nov 18 at 2:27 PM Isobel W wrote ...
Who cares anyway Not me
Friday, May 16 at 10:17 AM Amy wrote ...
For some people the lake fire is something new, but for some of us it is yearly event. Yes, peoples' lives are in danger and some are the wild-life. If people where more aware about the dangers of throwing cigarette butts out the windows during dry season. Most fire owould not happen. Or for the person the starts the BBQ girll and lets the ashes fall to the ground. I live in Glades County and I have lived here for 21 years. You think that people would care more about lake.
Thursday, May 15 at 11:31 PM Fisher wrote ...
This fire is great for the health of the lake, the "over grown" land grass, bushes and silt bottom will burn down to the hard sand bottom. The fish will have a much cleaner lake to live in and spawn. When the water rises this summer the native grasses will have a place to grow. This fire is well over due.
Thursday, May 15 at 2:47 PM Dave wrote ...
The smoke is not as bad today in moore Haven and hopefully the area near the RV park will have all burned off in a few more days.
Thursday, May 15 at 12:42 PM MC wrote ...
THAT IS TERRIBLE, MY HUSBAND & I GO CAMPING AT THAT VERY MARINA WHERE THE FIRE IS SMOLDERING, AND I AM HOPING THAT EVERYTHING WILL TURN OUT OK OUT THERE, WE WERE PLANNING ON GOING ON MEMORIAL WEEKEND, BUT I GUESS THAT'S OUT OF THE QUESTION.
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