Wildfire near Lochloosa Lake grows to 228 acres, 30% contained

HAWTHORNE, Fla. (WCJB) - Firefighters worked through the night to improve containment lines for a fire that broke out early Monday afternoon in southeast Alachua County.

The Lochloosa West Fire near County Road 325 is still very active and growing, according to Florida Forest Service officials. The fire is creating smoky conditions that could pose a problem overnight.

The wildfire near Lochloosa Lake and southeast County Road 346 near Hawthorne started as 3 acres and quickly grew to 100. As of Tuesday morning, 228 acres and is 30% contained.

Residents on alert

Dee Elliott, who lives about a mile away, was outside at Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve along County Road 325 when she got a notification about the fire.

“Very nervous, I was very nervous. I was actually in panic mode. I went to straight panic mode first before I had to gather myself. I was like all right we got to see how close this is and see what’s gonna happen, and then the forestry I mean they were one after another, and now you hear the helicopters coming in so I have a feeling they’re going to and there’s a big lake right behind it so that’s gonna benefit a lot for those helicopters in containing this fire I’m hoping,” Elliott said.

Elliott said she is ready in case she needs to evacuate and is taking extra precautions, as her daughter has asthma.

“Preparing my animals, you know, spraying the lawn, it’s not really going to do much with this drought, you know it’s just gonna soak it all up, but just get my baby girl ready, my family, get my animals. You know and whatever happens it just happens. We just hope for the best and get our little behinds and be safe,” Elliott said.

Response efforts

The Forestry Service is using 14 bulldozers and 6 engines. The Saint Johns River Water Management District has been helping with helicopters dropping water on the fire.

Florida Forest Service officials said crews will remain at the scene throughout the night and will map the fire Tuesday to determine how many acres they are dealing with and if any part of it is contained.

State troopers are warning drivers about the possibility of reduced vision along U.S. 441 and I-75 in Payne’s Prairie.

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