Smoke from Wildbuck Fire near Glenn Lakes begins to ease

Smoke from the Wildbuck Fire behind Glenn Lakes had eased significantly by May 8, but Hernando County residents near US 19 and west of it were still being told to watch for flare-ups as crews kept working the burn area.

The fire was described as a smoldering, fully contained brush fire in the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area west of US 19 behind Glenn Lakes. Hernando County Fire Rescue said the smoke and odor were coming from swamp land that could not be completely extinguished, which meant the smell could linger even after the visible smoke dropped.

Florida Forest Service crews were reinforcing containment lines and carrying out mop-up work, while the Florida Forest Service - Withlacoochee Forestry Center continued monitoring the area. Officials said monitoring would continue over the weekend, and the smoke and odor could remain for several days because west winds were pushing it inland toward the Weeki Wachee area and along the SR 50 corridor.

The latest update also drew a clear line on what would still warrant a call for help: residents were advised to contact authorities only if they saw active flames. Officials said there was no threat to homes or nearby forests, a reassurance that matters for the neighborhoods west of US 19 where smoke had been most noticeable.

The Wildbuck Fire was unfolding while Hernando County’s burn ban remained in effect. The county ban began April 14, 2026, and was still listed as continuing until further notice, underscoring how dry conditions and wildfire risk were still shaping fire response across the county.

Florida wildfire resources note that the Florida Forest Service handles wildfire response, and county burn bans are reflected on state wildfire information pages. For now, the situation around Glenn Lakes had shifted from active smoke complaints to long-term monitoring, with officials saying the fire was contained but not fully done producing smoke from the swamp where it burned.