CENTRAL FLORIDA — Three prescribed burns are taking place on Friday across Central Florida.
The first, in Seminole County, is at the Black Hammock Wilderness Area. The Seminole County Natural Lands team will burn 11 acres of pine flatwoods habitat in the heart of the Wilderness Area, officials reported.
Officials say prescribed burns mitigate wildfire risk and promote ecological benefits for plants and animals.
They said weather conditions may cause smoke to travel west and northwest toward Lake Jesup.
The wilderness property is closed to the public on Friday, and will reopen on Saturday, Jan. 10.
Another prescribed burn will occur in Lake County in the Seminole State Forest. The Withlacoochee Forestry Center will conduct a 1,290-acre prescribed fire two miles north of State Road 46 and south of Black Water Creek in DeBary.
The Seminole County Fire Department warned on Facebook that based on current weather conditions, Seminole County may experience some nuisance smoke within the northwest portion of the county.
Brevard County Emergency Management will also conduct a 1,400-acre prescribed burn in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.