Gulf Coast University Airs Out Classrooms As Wildfire Threat Ends

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Workers at Florida Gulf Coast University aired out smoke-filled classrooms Tuesday as the threat from a 1,300-acre wildfire subsided.

The university planned to hold classes on Wednesday, a day after the school was closed because of smoke and ashes from the four-day-old fire.

``Most of the (fire) activity has been suppressed around campus,'' said Robert Harris, the campus police chief.

Gerry Lacavera, wildfire mitigation specialist for the state Division of Forestry, said Tuesday the fire was 85 percent contained. Crews hoped to have the fire entirely contained by the end of the day, Lacavera said.

Crews were using tractors and brush trucks to extend fire lines and expand the lines already built. Lacavera said the wind, at about 10 miles per hour, was not causing any problems.

``All the active fire we have seen is small and on the inside of the fire line,'' Lacavera said.

At one point over the holiday weekend, the fire got within 40 feet of the campus, and the smoke was so thick that an assistant campus fire chief couldn't locate his truck in daylight, Harris said.

Smoke filtered through campus buildings from ventilation systems and doors being opened.

``You could see smoke hanging inside the windows,'' Harris said.