Wildfire in Western Putnum, Florida

At the beginning of February, Florida Forest Service reported a wildfire of about 318 acres near State Road 20 that then increased to 400 acres and persisted through February 24th. On February 4th and 6th, the Putnam County Sheriffs Office reported that a combination of thick smoke and fog (smog or superfog) resulted in the closure of State Road 20 in the vicinity of Keuka Road. This closure extended to County Road 315 South to Lake Galilee. Schools were also closed on February 4th and 6th due to school bus route cancellations. On February 10th, Putnam County SO advised that CR-20 A, locally Keuka Road, was closed at Strickland Rd due to heavy smoke from the Pace Ct wildfire.

Breezy surface and transport winds combined with near critically low humidity values and ongoing severe to extreme drought conditions created elevated fire danger conditions for northeast and north central Florida especially on February 4th.