HAWTHORNE, Fla. – Dense smoke from a 700-acre brush fire burning along the Putnam-Alachua County borner forced roads around Hawthorne to be closed again Tuesday, and kept Ochwilla Elementary School closed a second day.
The Florida Highway Patrol and Putnam County Sheriff's Office rerouted traffic both Monday and Teusday mornings on State Road 21 between State Road 20 and Baden Powell Road. On Tuesday, S.R. 20 was closed from U.S. 301 to the Putnam County line and 301 was closed between State Road 26 and S.R. 20.
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Due to the dense smoke and road closures, Ochwilla Elementary School principal Joe Theobold decided to keep the school closed both Monday and Tuesday.
"During the early morning hours, a combination of dense fog and heavy smoke has caused extremely poor visibility for motorists traveling in the Hawthorne area of Putnam County," Putnam County Lt. Johnny Greenwood said.
Due to the low visibility in these areas, drivers are urged to use caution.