Prescribed burn in Orange County scheduled for today

The St. Johns River Water Management District is conducting a 234-acre prescribed burn Friday at Hal Scott Regional Preserve and Park in Orange County. The controlled burn is being conducted on the northeastern portion of the property, north of Dallas Boulevard and west of State Road 520. The burn’s purpose is to maintain fire-dependent ecosystems, improve habitat for the red-cockaded woodpecker, and reduce wildland fuel loads to mitigate future wildfire risk.

Prescribed fire is the use of carefully planned fire purposefully set under stringent conditions to manage the fire’s effects. Before conducting a burn, the District ensures that wind and other weather conditions are correct for managing the fire and minimizing the impacts of smoke on residents and traffic.

Periodic prescribed fires on District lands enhance the land’s environmental quality and protect its neighbors from destructive wildfires, but not without the possibility of temporary nuisances like smoke and ash.

Prescribed fires help prevent wildfires by burning off fuels that naturally build up over time while also helping to manage the growth of woody shrubs.

In fire-dependent ecosystems, fire is nearly as important as rainfall and sunshine. The benefits of prescribed fire include restoring and maintaining natural communities, reducing the chances of destructive wildfires, perpetuating fire-adapted plants and animals, cycling nutrients, managing tree diseases, and opening scenic vistas.

Follow the District on social media to know when prescribed burns occur in your area. To learn more about the District’s prescribed burn program, visit the District online atwww.sjrwmd.com/lands/management/prescribedfire or follow the conversation at #LoveYourLands #RxBurn #goodfire #sjrwmd.

About the St. Johns River Water Management District

St. Johns River Water Management District staff are committed to ensuring the sustainable use and protection of water resources for the benefit of the people of the District and the state of Florida. The St. Johns River Water Management District is one of five districts in Florida managing groundwater and surface water supplies in the state. The District encompasses all or part of 18 northeast and east-central Florida counties. District headquarters are in Palatka, and staff are also available to serve the public at Apopka, Jacksonville, and Palm Bay service centers.