Prescribed fire today at Newnans Lake Conservation Area in Alachua County
Prescribed fire helps reduce the possibility of dangerous wildfire while enhancing land’s environmental quality.
Prescribed fire helps reduce the possibility of dangerous wildfire while enhancing land’s environmental quality.
PALATKA, Fla., Dec. 19, 2019 — The St. Johns River Water Management District is conducting an 118-acre prescribed fire on Newnans Lake Conservation Area North Tract just west of County Road 234 in Alachua County. The purpose of the burn is to reduce wildland fuel accumulation and maintain fire dependent ecosystems.
Prescribed fire is the use of carefully planned fire purposefully set under stringent conditions to manage the fire’s effects. Its benefits include restoring and maintaining natural communities, reducing chances of destructive wildfires, perpetuating fire-adapted plants and animals, cycling nutrients, controlling tree diseases, and opening scenic vistas. Prescribed fires help prevent wildfires by burning off fuels that naturally build up over time, while also helping to control the growth of woody shrubs.
Before conducting a burn, the district ensures wind and other weather conditions are correct for managing the fire and minimizing the impacts of smoke to residents and traffic.