Right now, several Central Florida counties and public parks are burning. Right now, several What are controlled burns, and are these burns a reason to be concerned about our Florida ecosystems? The sanctuary is located off Malabar Road just west of U.S. 1.The burns, typical in Florida during the winter months, are used to manage wildfire risks.Land managers with the Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program and Florida Forestry Service conducted a controlled burn Wednesday in the Helen and Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary in Rockledge to burn off underbrush. Not exactly.These controlled burns are a way to manage overgrowth of vegetation and prevent wildfires from cropping up and overtaking the vast landscape (especially in dry summer months) by burning away the dry flora that could easily catch fire and get out of control.With over 100 storms a year, Florida is also at high risk for lightning strikes, which can easily cause wildfires with an overabundance of dry vegetation growth.Prescribed fires generally target the areas that get hit by lightning naturally and burn away the ferns and weeds in a safe manner before tragedy can strike.And since the burns take place during the day, wildlife have ample time to escape the area before it directly affects them.OC Fire Rescue tweeted that three large burns were taking place in Orange County.They followed up their tweet to let the public know of a third controlled burn happening in the Apopka area.Smoke from these burns is generally visible for a few hours following the procedure.The weather conditions under which the burns occur are chosen specifically to help mitigate any harmful pollution, and smoke-sensitive areas are avoided if possible.Though the length of time the process of targeting specific areas is unknown, officials urge residents to stay diligent and avoid the closed-off areas.While the idea of a controlled burn can be scary, especially when you start seeing large amounts of smoke in the air for seemingly no reason, we can trust that fire and state park officials have these ones under control.You can learn more about the state of current burns and the burn process at the The weather has certainly been wild in Central Florida lately too, with temperatures dropping so low that During the investigation, Florida officials suspended all controlled burns statewide. The world is still reeling from the devastating fires that occurred in Australia, and the scent of smoke is still heavy in the air, especially in Florida. Controlled Burn Sites. Florida Forest Service crews will be monitoring a 25-acre controlled burn in the Malabar Scrub Sanctuary just east of Palm Bay. Map for the 36th Ave. Use the interactive map below to find locations of controlled burns. Prescribed fire is essential in restoring and maintaining the fire adapted ecosystem of the Everglades. If no locations appear, there are currently no burns taking place. South Brevard residents could see heavy smoke in the area as authorities carry out a 25-acre prescribed burn in the Malabar Scrub Sanctuary.The burn — carried out by the Environmentally Endangered Lands Program and Florida Forest Service — was planned to take place between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today.Another 100-acre prescribed burn will take place along Interstate 95 and Buffer Preserve Drive in the Micco area, Brevard County Emergency Management officials reported. Prescribed fire burning in the pine rocklands . In the Orlando area, the thick haze that enveloped the city last week had citizens in a panic, but thankfully the reason behind the burns is not as bad you’d suspect. The world is still reeling from the devastating fires that occurred in Australia, and the scent of smoke is still heavy in the air, especially in Florida. Click on the flame icon to learn more about an individual burn. NPS Photo Ian Wilson. Find additional information on controlled burns and the effect on natural areas. Fire in the pine rocklands triggers the pines to regenerate and opens up the habitat to allow light to reach the rockland floor, enabling grasses and smaller plants to grow.
SE Fire, released by the Florida Forest Service, May 15, 2020.