8,226-Acre Prescribed Burn Happening Thursday at Three Forks Conservation Area in Brevard County

Prescribed fire is use of carefully planned fire purposefully set under stringent conditions

BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – The St. Johns River Water Management District is conducting an 8,226-acre prescribed burn today at Three Forks Conservation Area in Brevard County, located within the Indian River Lagoon and Upper St. Johns River Basin.

The burn area is in the central portion of the property, just south of the Thomas O. Lawton Recreation Area. This prescribed fire is essential for reducing hazardous fuel loads and maintaining the health of fire-dependent natural communities.

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 to 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, such as 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 chances of destructive wildfires, perpetuating fire-adapted plants and animals, cycling nutrients, managing tree diseases, and opening scenic vistas.

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