FHP: Smoky conditions could challenge drivers in Marion County
Florida Highway Patrol is warning people in Marion County, they may see smoke on their Friday morning commute.
FHP on Thursday night issued an advisory about a 100-acre brush fire that was burning near US-19 and County Road 314 in Fort McCoy.
Officials said the smoke could cause visibility issues overnight and into the morning hours.
Troopers advise drivers should slow down and use their low beam headlights in these conditions.
Channel 9's Alexa Lorenzo is monitoring possible traffic issues in Marion County and throughout Central Florida.
Be sure to tune in to Eyewitness News This Morning on Ch. 9 and TV27 for live traffic updates.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Strong thunderstorms are possible in west Orlando
Channel 9 is still tracking rain chances during the evening hours, mainly in the west of the Orlando metro area. A few strong thunderstorms are possible. The main impacts will be isolated flooding, wind gusts of 40 mph, and small hail in the strongest storms. Most of the heavy rain chances over the next few days will stay West of Orlando due to a southeast wind, which is in place due to high pressure centered in the Atlantic. This weekend, some Saharan dust may enter our area, limiting rain chances for central Florida. The tropics are quiet for now, and no development is expected for the next seven days. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Governor signs new law protecting pets during natural disasters: 'All states need to do this'
Florida's governor has made it a felony to abandon pets during natural disasters. The new state law was inspired by a dog named Trooper, who was intentionally tied up and left behind during Hurricane Milton. As AccuWeather reported, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 150, also known as Trooper's Law, to prevent aggravated animal cruelty. This issue reached the Florida Legislature after a 23-year-old left his dog while fleeing Hurricane Milton because he couldn't find anyone else to care for him. Authorities arrested and charged the man with a third-degree felony, sparking conversations about enforcing stricter penalties for abandoning pets during emergencies. Fortunately, Trooper survived the storm after a Florida Highway Patrol trooper rescued him along Interstate 75 near Tampa. He was originally named Jumbo but was renamed after the hero who saved his life. A couple in Parkland, Florida, later adopted the dog. "Across Florida, we have seen horrifying instances of animal cruelty that demand a stronger response," DeSantis said. "Florida stands by man's best friend." This law is encouraging because it may deter other people from leaving their pets behind when faced with evacuation orders during an extreme storm. Unfortunately, this situation is all too common in storm-prone areas such as the Florida coast. The impacts of our changing climate are making storms more intense, causing severe rain and flooding conditions that are challenging for any animal to survive. Hurricane evacuation orders are becoming more frequent in Florida and other coastal regions, so it's critical that we prepare for devastating weather as much as possible. Laws that protect animals help preserve domestic and animal welfare, saving lives and supporting healthy, balanced ecosystems. Anyone in Florida who restrains and abandons a dog during an evacuation or a declared disaster faces five years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine. What would you do if natural disasters were threatening your home? Move somewhere else Reinforce my home Nothing This is happening already Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. In response to an ABC News Facebook post about the new law, one social media user commented, "We need to plan for not only the people but for the pets too." "ALL states need to do this," a Facebook user suggested. "No one should be left behind, especially our pets," someone else wrote. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
FHP warns Duval County wildfire may cause visibility problems on US-17
The Florida Highway Patrol issued an advisory to drivers Tuesday night in response to a wildfire burning in northern Duval County. Just before 10 P.M., FHP said a 3-acre wildfire was burning near US-17 and Yellow Bluff Road. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Officials said it may cause visibility issues on US-17 through the night and into the morning hours. Drivers are reminded to slow down and use their low-beam headlights if experiencing serious visibility problems in the area. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]