Planned Burn At Boyd Hill Preserve Expected To Generate Smoke

ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- Where there's smoke, there's fire. But there's no need to worry. This fire has been planned to reduce the dead foliage at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve.

Officials at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S. in St. Petersburg, are planning a prescribed burn on Friday, Feb. 16, weather permitting. It will begin at about 10 a.m. and is expected to be completed by the end of the day.

Weather is crucial in determining that a prescribed burn is conducted under the safest conditions possible and to allow for proper smoke dispersion, say officials. Smoke from the burn is likely to disperse over Boyd Hill Nature Preserve and Lake Maggiore.

The preserve's trails will be closed on the day of the prescribed burn, but the picnic area and education center will be open. If the weather forecast is considered unfavorable for the planned burn, it will be canceled, and the public will be notified of the rescheduled date.

Prescribed burning reduces the risk of dangerous and destructive wildfires by consuming the natural build-up 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 pine and scrub habitats, reduction in the cost of mowing and manual land maintenance, and improvement of the appearance of the landscape.

For more information, call Boyd Hill Nature Preserve at (727) 893-7326.

Image via Boyd Hill Nature Preserve