Wildfire smoke closes interstates in Florida (CNN) {Valdosta, Okefenokee area}

[eppur_se_muova]

(CNN) -- Dense smoke that closed parts of two major interstate highways was expected to keep choking Floridians and traffic until at least midmorning Sunday.

The smoke was generated by huge wildfires burning in northern Florida and southern Georgia.

Interstate 75 remained closed from Valdosta, Georgia, south to Lake City, Florida, said Col. Chris Knight, director of the Florida Highway Patrol. Interstate 10 was closed from Sanderson, Florida, eastward to Live Oak.

"If you don't have to travel, we simply ask that you don't," Knight advised. "It is gridlock. You will be sitting on the interstate."

Several crashes involving injuries occurred before the freeways were shut down, he said.
***
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/05/12/wildfires/index.html

[Laelth]

1. ...

Smoke from this fire drifted into my home town of Macon, Georgia, yesterday seriously reducing visibility and creating a significant health hazard. My family and I stayed shut up in the house for most of the day as the air was nearly unbreathable.

Macon is about 180 miles North of the center of the fire(s).

-Laelth

[RebelOne]

2. My daughter lives in Hollywood, FL, just below Ft. Lauderdale.

And she said that the smoke is down there.

[doni_georgia]

3. Smoke has been making as far north as McDonough

We're an hour north of Macon and we have been able to smell the smoke here. Also, one day this week we had a tire fire about 20 miles from our house that made the air unbreathable here. We have got to have some rain - and soon!

[japple]

4. I'm 60 mi. north of Atlanta, and there's smoke (or haze)

hanging on the air today. Fortunately, the wind is picking up, so maybe it will blow out. I can't believe this is from the fires in Okeefenokee. We've had several days of gorgeous, clear, cool weather, and now this. No measurable amounts of rain since the 1st of April. My garden is hanging on by a thread with the help of soaker hoses, but we are really hurting. I have asthma and allergies and couldn't stay out for more than a few minutes today.

[Big Pappa]

5. Is it ever going to f...n rain?

n/t

[RubyDuby in GA]

6. No

the state is being punished for the majority of its citizens being too stupid to elect Democrats, so all of us have to suffer.