Prescribed Burn Notification

Heartland Region - Hardee, Highlands and Polk Counties

Conditions permitting, staff from the Southwest Florida Water Management District will conduct a 407-acre prescribed burn at the Upper Hillsborough Preserve Alston Tract in Polk County starting at 10 a.m., Sept. 4, 2025. The burn unit is located 4 miles east of County Road 39 and 4 miles southeast of Chancey Road.

Sign up for email/text alerts about prescribed fires at. WaterMatters.org/PrescribedBurnsAlerts.  

The Importance of Prescribed Burns

Prescribed burns play a vital role in protecting conservation lands from uncontrolled wildfires while promoting the health of Florida’s ecosystems. The District regularly conducts these controlled burns to maintain natural areas, support ecological balance and manage invasive vegetation for the benefit of native plants and wildlife.

All prescribed burns are authorized by the Florida Forest Service and subject to change based on weather and safety conditions. Notifications are posted on Facebook, X, Nextdoor and WaterMatters.org.

Learn more about the District’s prescribed burns and land management efforts here.