LAKE CITY, Fla. - Wildfires burning in 55 of Florida's 67 counties are sending thick smoke as far west as Birmingham, Ala., newspapers reported Tuesday.

The Birmingham News quoted the National Weather Service in Mobile saying haze and smoke from the fires was also reported in Meridian, Miss.

Speaking to CBS News Tuesday morning, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist said from Miami he was optimistic because of the amount of help the state was getting in battling the fires.

"I think it's going to be several days, probably a week," before the fires were controlled, Crist said.

One massive fire has consumed 108,000 acres and covered North Central Florida and caused repeated closures of Interstates 10 and 75, the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times reported.

Some 2,000 firefighters working with various agencies are battling the biggest blaze and trying to prevent a threat to Lake City, Fla., the report said.

State officials said as of Monday night, 236 fires were burning in Florida, and 165,741 acres had burned.

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