ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Two prescribed burns are being conducted in Orange County on Wednesday.
The largest is a 291-acre burn on the north portion of Hal Scott Regional Preserve and Park in Orange County, situated in the Middle St. Johns River Basin, by the St. Johns River Water Management District.
Orange County is conducting a prescribed burn at Kelly Park.
The burn at the Hal Scott Regional Preserve is to improve habitat for the red-cockaded woodpecker and to reduce the vegetation that contributes to wildfires and disrupts the environment for other wildlife. Prescribed burns also help with cycling nutrients, managing tree diseases and opening scenic vistas, officials said.
The Parks burn contractor will conduct a 30-acre controlled burn at the popular Apopka park, authorized by the Florida Forest Service, to mitigate wildfire risk and promote ecological benefits for plants and animals.
Kelly Park is located at 400 East Kelly Park Road in Apopka.
The planned fires are purposefully set under stringent conditions to manage their effects. Before conducting a burn, officials ensure that wind and other weather conditions are correct for managing the fire and minimizing the effects of smoke on residents and traffic, though some recent burns have generated smoke in some parts of Central Florida.