Florida Fires

[scammermom]

My 5 year old is very concerned about the wild fires in FL. I guess I left the news on in my bedroom and she wandered in there. She said that one was near Sea World and she knows we are planning on going soon.

How is it down there??

 

[Jason71]

Yes, there was a fire about a block from Sea World yesterday (Monday) evening--it also happened to be across the street from my apartment complex. The smoke blew right over Sea World last night, roads were closed, but a lot of them have been re-opened this morning. There is still a smokey scent in the air around here. It's raining a bit, too, hopefully that will help (as long as the lightning doesn't do more damage).

Unless you are headed down today, it should all be a memory by the time you visit; the fires on the east coast are a a lot worse.

 

[scammermom]

That's my other concern is my MIL in Cocoa. Hope everyone here is safe!

 

[RabFlmom]

East coast fires have been playing havoc with the roads. I-95 and the Beachline(528 ) will be closed everyday until further notice from 5 AM-9 Am or until deemed clear enough to drive. Smog has been so bad in the mornings that there have been really bad accidents. The fire in New Smyrna Beach has been closing that portion of I-95, too.
Not sure which fire we are getting the smokey smell from but it has been hard on people with breathing problems way down here in South Brevard almost 45 minutes from 528.

We did get some rain today but it will only help a little. The fires are burning down in the root systems of plants and it spreads underground. Just saw on the news they put a thermometer in ground where the Brevard fire burned near 528 and it registered over 400 degrees in just a few minutes. It doesn't take much for them to flare up again.

If you are coming down in the near future you might want to check road conditions if you plan to go I-95 to the beachline into Orlando. You can check road conditions in central Florida by dialing 511.

And if you smoke, please put out your cigarettes in an ashtray. Last night's fire near Sea World was started by a tossed cigarette.

 

[scammermom]

Sorry to hear about all this. We are coming down in 2 weeks by plane. We can go 528 to 520. MIL is off 520 next to 95.

We also plan to go to the Brevard Zoo while we are down that way. We are members of the zoo here in Baltimore so we will get free admission to the Brevard Zoo.

Thanks for the reminder to others to put out their ciggies in the ashtray and not outside. We don't smoke but it seems like a lot of people in FL do.

Please, if you don't mind, keep us informed. I pray for you and your family's safety.

 

[flatline]

they had to shut down portions of I-75 on our west coast yesterday as well. there were small fires burning again today.

 

[tmt martins]

I hope you guys all get some needed rain .I also no all of these aren't caused by Cigs but many are .

Please if you choose to smoke ( as DW does) get an ashtray that snuffs out your cigs in the car and seals everything in.it will help with the disposal and smell of the car.

I was in DL in Feb when the fires were going on there and it was like it was snowing at one point on the IJ ride.

 

[tmt martins]

We also plan to go to the Brevard Zoo while we are down that way. We are members of the zoo here in Baltimore so we will get free admission to the Brevard Zoo.

Hey Scammermom during the fall I can watch the Chimps if they are outside from my Bedroom with the binoculars.

Before they moved them many years ago I could hear the lions roar in the AM during the summer with the windows open.

 

[scammermom]

Sounds like you're very close to the zoo.

We went there about a year ago when we visited MIL. The girls liked the Giraffe feeding station and the kangaroos. Don't find kangas up north. They have a nice setup there.

Please, I hope you're only looking at monkeys thru your binoculars thru your bedroom window.

 

[RabFlmom]

Scammermom , They closed 520 this morning because of the smog, too. This morning that means if you want to get to Brevard County from Orlando you have to take US 192 or Rt. 50! They expect to open the roads by 10. Yesterday they were able to open 95 and 528 by 8AM. Hopefully by next week the fire off 528 will be contained. Last night I heard it is only 10 % contained because it is burning in the marsh, not threatening homes, and in areas where firefighters can't get to to fight the fire. Hopefully we will get more rain without lightning.

One of these days we have to get to the Brevard Zoo. We haven't been to it in years. Maybe that should be my Mother's Day gift. LOL I figure it will be Sea World.....since it doesn't cost them anything. LOL

 

[tmt martins]

Sounds like you're very close to the zoo.

We went there about a year ago when we visited MIL. The girls liked the Giraffe feeding station and the kangaroos. Don't find kangas up north. They have a nice setup there.

Please, I hope you're only looking at monkeys thru your binoculars thru your bedroom window.

I sorry I'm across from the Maryland Baltimore ZOO not down in florida .And before they closed the upper section we had I think wallibies or roos in the first part of our zoo over to the far right when you entered

 

[scammermom]

tmt: I thought maybe you were a snowbird since I saw on your profile B'more.

We joined Balt zoo since I have 2 kids and I watch 2 extra kids all summer too. And I knew we could get in free in Brevard.

RabFlmom: Thanks for the continuing update on that situation. I appreciate it.

 

[rangebob]

scammermom, make sure you call 511 before you head over to Cocoa. Like said before every morning 528 is closed from 520 - 95 due to the smog. It is normally opened by 9am, but the highway patrol checks the roads every 30 minutes to determine if it is passable.

 

[scammermom]

Thanks for the info.

If I can take from the airport, 528 to 520, I should be ok. She is right before 95 on 520 (there's a McDs on the right at where their retirement community is)

 

[mslclark]

We're going to Orlando in 9 days. I didn't know the fires had gotten so close to that area. Please keep us posted on what's going on, and thanks for the info!

 

[rangebob]

The newest on I-95 is that in Volusia(sp) county is closed indeffinately. They had a fire there yesterday thatwas real close to the road and now they are afraid that a tree will fall on a car. It is a 12 mile stretch that is closed down.

 

[1stWDWtrip]

Updates anyone? We leave 5/21 and return 5/31. We are planning to spend 7 days in WDW and hope to go to SW on 27th.

 

[RabFlmom]

There has been some rain but still very dry. You shouldn't have any problems in the Orlando area. I-95 in Volusia County is still being shut down pretty regularly , but 528 and I-95 in Brevard have been open.

 

[1stWDWtrip]

Thanks for the update!!

 

[RabFlmom]

Looks like it is still going to be a daily question "Is 528 open?" This morning the Eastbound lanes are closed in the stretch that gets you to Southbound I-95. There is really thick smog again. Best bet is to call 511 when you get ready to use the road.