[Russ_Boston]

With all the wild fires in the past few years in Central FLA does any long time TVer have an opinion on TV's vulnerability? Perhaps the lack of a real forest within TV creates a firebreak? Does TV management (CDD's etc.) ever speak to the issue or have plans for such an event?

[redwitch]

Great question! (Wish I'd thought of it.) Hope someone has an answer or two.

[SteveZ]

Llived through all of this a few years ago when we almost lost Flagler County completely. Was living on the Seminole-Orange-Brevard county line (right in the corner) in the middle of a pine forest. Had a well, and probably drained it a lot by spraying the property, house, et cetera as often as possible. We all had "escape plans," depending on how bad the wind blew in our direction and the latest news. The smoke was brutal and nerve-wracking.

All that being said, TV seems fairly safe. There are are no standing pine forests or acres of scrub oak - all of which really make up the tinder and fuel for these wild fires. The one advantage of "moon-scaping" the area and building from scratch is that the greatest of the fire hazards were bulldozed away.

Would remind everyone that when driving through areas of medium-to-high forest density during fire season, the smoke can obscure vision as bad as the worst fog. In addition, if there are active fires, the wildlife will run across highways without their usual caution, which can be fatal to driver and animal alike.

"...it's a jungle out there..."

[zcaveman]

Also, for anyone with breathing problems, it the winds shifts and the airborne smoke comes our way, stay inside as much as possible. It does tend to make breathing harder.

[Villages Kahuna]

My rear lot line faces a 13-acre "standing pine forest." There are four houses that face one side of the property and villas along either side of the property. The front of the "forest" (actually, it's a house and barn with the slash pines planted as a tax shelter) is on Cherry Lake Road (CR 100), east of The Villages.

My wife and I were talking about what might happen if those 13-acres of dry pine began to burn. I'm guessing that 2-3 fire trucks could dump a lot of water on those trees, thereby protecting the poterntially-affected Villages houses.

We hope that's the case, anyway.

[jadebox]

Been here through many really dry years and no fires. There has been occasional times when there has been smoke.

[Sidney Lanier]

By and large, it doesn't look like TV has the kinds of growth that would encourage fires. However, several long-time FL residents have told us that even with fires raging at considerable distance from where one lives, the smoke can be irritating at best and downright problematic at worst, especially for anyone with any kind of breathing issue like COPD, asthma, emphysema, and so forth.

Good question-good answers. I agree with everything said. Smoke is my problem and I had to fly out for a few days last year.