Escambia County's Natural Resources Conservation Division is preparing for a prescribed burn in the Jones Swamp Wetland Preserve. Staff anticipates conducting burn activities between Wednesday, Jan.19 through Friday, Jan. 28, weather permitting. The area for the proposed burn is approximately 43 acres, located south of Highway 98, west of Fairfield Drive, north of Gulf Beach Highway and east of Blue Angel Parkway. A Florida Certified Prescribed Burn Manager on staff will oversee the burn with assistance from the Florida Forest Service.
Winter is an ideal time for prescribed burns, where land managers intentionally set small, low-intensity fires that mimic natural fires caused by lighting. Prescribed burns keep the understory open to allow grasses and other small plants to dominate the landscape. Ash keeps the soil fertile and encourages new plant growth in the spring. By reducing fuel loads and keeping the understory clear, land managers reduce the chances of a larger, more dangerous wildfire.
For more information about the Jones Swamp Wetland Preserve and the proposed prescribed burn, please call 850-595-3496 or 850-840-9089.
The Natural Resources Management Department provides a diverse array of vital environmental and natural resources programs. Its divisions include Environmental Code Enforcement, Marine Resources, Mosquito Control, Natural Resources Conservation, RESTORE, Water Quality and Land Management and Air Quality Monitoring. Stay up to date by following Escambia County Natural Resources Management on Facebook.