Environment

Lochloosa West wildfire scorches nearly 1,000 acres in Alachua County

A wildfire burning southwest of Hawthorne has consumed approximately 956 acres and was about half contained as of Wednesday night, according to Florida Forest Service officials. Crews have been working around the clock and used controlled burns to reduce vegetation fueling the blaze. The burn-out operations sent ash drifting into East Gainesville and the Waldo area.

Sources: Mainstreet Daily News · The Gainesville Sun · WCJB TV20