Prescribed Burn at Boyd Hill Today

Officials at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve are planning a prescribed burn for Monday Oct. 1, beginning at 10 a.m., weather permitting.

According to a news release, weather is crucial in determining that a prescribed burn is conducted under the safest conditions possible and to allow for proper smoke dispersion. The Florida Division of Forestry, St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue and Boyd Hill Nature Preserve staff supervises and conducts prescribed burns.

Officials say the burn is expected to be completed by the end of the day. Smoke from the burn is likely to disperse over Boyd Hill Nature Preserve and Lake Maggiore.

The Preserve’s trails will be closed all day, but the picnic area and education center will be open.

According to a news release:

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 pineland and scrub habitat, reduction in the cost of mowing and manual land maintenance, and improvement of the appearance of the landscape.