Donna Green-Townsend of member station WUFT in Gainesville, Florida reports smoke and the threat of more fires had kept most residents of the town of Waldo, Florida from returning to their homes, but late today they received word that they may finally go home. Residents were forced to evacuate earlier this week when a nearby forest fire threatened the town. Officials say they believe the fire danger will soon pass and residents will be able to go back home in a day or two. The Waldo blaze is one of more than 100 fires that have scorched over 48,000 acres in Florida in the last 3 weeks. President Clinton has declared 8 Florida counties federal disaster areas.
Copyright 1998 NPR