Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control, as many Floridians witnessed during the state’s wildfire emergency last year. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns in August and September at the Myakka River - Deer Prairie Creek Preserve and the Myakka River - Schewe Tract in Sarasota County.
Deer Prairie Creek Preserve and the Schewe Tract are located west of North Port, east of the Myakka River, north and south of Interstate 75. Approximately 1,300 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.
Some major benefits of prescribed fire include:
• Reducing overgrown plants, which decreases the risk of catastrophic wildfires
• Promoting the growth of new, diverse plants
• Maintaining the character and condition of wildlife habitat
• Maintaining access for public recreation
The District conducts prescribed fires on approximately 30,000 acres each year. Click here to learn more about why igniting prescribed burns now prepares lands for the next wildfire season.