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Courtesy of the St. Johns River Water Management District. A prescribed burn.
The St. Johns River Water Management District is planning a 90-acre controlled burn in the Dunns Creek Conservation Area today.
The fire, which will be located near San Mateo, is being set to “reduce hazardous fuel loads and maintenance of fire-dependent natural communities,” according to a press release from the district.
District officials reportedly checked the wind and other weather conditions before pursuing the prescribed burn to ensure the smoke has a low impact on residents and traffic in the area.
According to The Weather Channel, local temperatures are expected to reach a high of 80 degrees with the wind reaching three miles per hour.
“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,” the Water Management District said in a press release.
The fire, officials stated, will help restore and maintain natural communities, reduce the probability of “destructive” wildfires occurring in the area, cycle nutrients in the area, help manage tree diseases and more.