Controlled Burn Canceled at Boyd Hill

ST. PETERSBURG – A prescribed burn to get rid of dead vegetation at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve has been postponed.

Weather conditions determine whether controlled burns are conducted to ensure for proper smoke dispersion.

The Florida Division of Forestry, St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue and Boyd Hill Nature Preserve staff supervises and conducts prescribed burns, which will last throughout the day. 

Prescribed burning reduces the risk of dangerous and destructive wildfires by consuming the natural buildup of dead vegetation.

Additional benefits include natural pine regeneration, new growth of nutritious plants for wildlife to eat, recycling of nutrients into the soil (ash), maintaining a healthy habitat for Gopher Tortoises, control of domineering vines and hardwoods in the pineland and scrub habitat, reduction in the cost of mowing and manual land maintenance, and improvement of the appearance of the landscape.