Prescribed fires scheduled in Dunnellon, FL, January-March 2023, to reduce risk of wildfires
SWFWMD photo of prescribed burn.
Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting prescribed burns January through March, 2023, of approximately 400 acres, in small, manageable units, on the Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve in Dunnellon (Marion County), Florida.
The Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve is located 2 miles east of Dunnellon, Florida and 7 miles northeast of the city of Hernando, Florida, bounded by County Road 484 on the north, State Road 200 on the southeast and the Withlacoochee River on the southwest.
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.
See aerial footage from a prescribed fire in the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve where District land management staff burned 320 acres: vimeo.com/425526377.