burn

From the St. Johns River Water Management District

PALATKA, Fla., April 25, 2008 ¾ A prescribed fire on approximately 90 acres of the Julington-Durbin Preserve is scheduled for today beginning at 9:30 a.m.

The burn is part of ongoing restoration and maintenance of St. Johns River Water Management District-owned land. District land managers strive to restore and preserve ecosystems and habitats on land acquired by the District and to provide public recreational opportunities that are compatible with District goals.

Prescribed fire — carefully planned fires purposefully set under stringent conditions to control its effects — is used to reduce the possibility of destructive wildfires, while enhancing land’s biological values and perpetuating fire-adapted plants and animals. Prescribed fire helps prevent wildfires by burning off fuels that naturally build up over time, while also helping to control the growth of woody shrubs. It also helps control tree diseases and opens scenic vistas.