Haze in the Air
Published April 11th, 2012
Thirty thousand acres have burned after a fire started on the boundary between Baker and Columbia counties.
Now the smoke has reached Gainesville and some residents don't like it.
Jayne Pierce says she enjoys spending the day working on her yard, but today is a little different.
"I'll probably go inside and have to close all my doors so I don't smell any of it," said Pierce.
"It" meaning the smoke that's been all over town today.
"It's a lot worse than what it was yesterday. I mean I looked at it and I thought the fire was over there," said Pierce.
But it's not over there across Pierce's home.
It's actually in the Osceola National Forest.
The fire started April 5th because of a lighting strike.
At last word, about 30,000 acres have burned. it is currently twenty-five percent contained, but still affecting residents in Gainesville.
"I see it in myself, it effects my breathing a little bit. It's just kind of a nasty environment to work in," said Lindsay Bush.
Bush, who spends most of his time working outside, says conditions like we had today make it difficult for him to work.
If the smoke gets worse he will be wearing a mask, just like these school crossing guards.
Paul Myers is the Administrator at the Alachua County Health Department. He said there are a couple ways to protect yourself from the smoke.
"If you don't have to be outside right now then stay inside. If you have air conditioning use it. make sure your fresh air vent is closed since it's re-circulating the air inside," said Myers.
Myers said if you have to be outside the best thing to do is take frequent breaks and try your best to limit your exposure.
Just like Pierce.
"You come out and you can actually smell it and want to go back inside your house because it's bad," said Pierce.
By: Yaremi Farinas
