Controlled burns today at Bayard Conservation Area in Clay County and Thomas Creek Conservation Area in Nassau County
PALATKA, Fla., Feb. 17, 2016 — The St. Johns River Water Management District is conducting two controlled burns today in northeast Florida: a 635-acre prescribed burn at the Bayard Conservation Area in Clay County and a 133-acre prescribed burn on the Redshirt Tract at the Thomas Creek Conservation Area in Nassau County. Both fires were set by aerial ignition. The purpose of the burns is wildfire hazard reduction.
Aerial ignition allows district staff to ignite fires more quickly, which results in faster burnout and less lingering smoke. Convection produced by igniting an area rapidly can help move the smoke up and away more quickly. Aerial ignition also allows staff to introduce fire into areas that may be inaccessible from the ground, ensuring that prescribed fire is introduced into even the most remote areas of the property. Aerial ignition allows staff to burn more acres in a shorter period of time, which in time will aid district staff in maintaining the fire frequency needed for the maintenance of the conservation area.
Prescribed fire is the use of carefully planned fire purposefully set under stringent conditions to control 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 that wind and other weather conditions are correct for controlling the fire and minimizing the impacts of smoke to residents and traffic.