Prescribed fires will be conducted in Citrus County, June - Sept., to reduce the risk of wildfires
Still shot from SWFWMD aerial video of prescribed fire within the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve.
Citrus County, Florida - Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control - and that’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District will conduct prescribed burns in Citrus County, Florida - during June through September, 2023 - on Potts Preserve and the Chassahowitzka River and Coastal Swamps area.
Potts Preserve is located approximately 2 miles east of the city of Hernando and 3.5 miles north-northeast of Inverness. The property is east and southeast of State Road 200 and north of Turner Camp Road and is bordered by the Withlacoochee River on the east. Approximately 300 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.
Chassahowitzka River and Coastal Swamps is located south of the city of Homosassa and approximately 1.5 miles west of U.S. Highway 19. Approximately 50 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.
See an aerial footage from a prescribed fire in the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve where District land management staff burned 320 acres: https://vimeo.com/425526377.