Smoke from Olive Fire shifts

Alachua County residents may see less smoke from the Olive Fire as easterly winds shift, but the 700-acre fire continues to burn. The fire in Levy Prairie began about a week ago and slowly grew into the 700-acre muck fire. Over the past weekend weather patterns kept the smoke low to the ground and spread across large areas. Wildfire Mitigation Specialist Ludie Bonde says this may soon change.

Bonde says firefighters are carefully monitoring and containing the blaze.. but people should be careful this holiday week.

The Florida Highway Patrol is on site and continues to monitor the roadways, though the fire has closed roadways and Ochwilla Elementary School in Putnam County today. Bond adds foul play is not suspected and the cause of the fire is "undetermined."