Lake Okeechobee wildfire grows to nearly 6,000 acres
MOORE HAVEN, Fla. (AP) -- Officials say a wildfire burning at Lake Okeechobee has grown to 5,800 acres.
Wind shifts could mean the fire may grow to 15,000 acres in the coming days.
The muck and grass are burning on the dry lake bed near Moore Haven, about 80 miles west of West Palm Beach. Fires also are burning on grassy islands in the lake.
Officials say smoke is impairing visibility on roadways west of the lake and could pose health problems.
Authorities suspect arson. Two fires began last Thursday and have mostly merged, separated only in sections by a canal. Firefighters say the blaze is still contained within Lake Okeechobee's dike.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
