Winter conditions favorable for prescribed burns, unfavorable for area homes, structures

Jacksonville, FL — As the temperatures drop to below freezing, and winds pick up late this week, winter fire season is under way.

Florida Forest Service Wildfire Mitigation Specialist Annaleasa Winter says while the windy, dry conditions are often favorable for controlled, prescribed burns managed by forest service professionals, they can be unfavorable for the rest of us.

She says prescribed burns, needed for forest renourishment or to rid land of hurricane brush damage, sometimes need the windy, dry winter weather in order to move controlled fires from spot to spot in a timely manner.

On Tuesday alone, nearly 5,700 acres were under 57 prescribed burns in Northeast Florida.

She says weather professionals, forest service personnel and land managers work closely, monitoring weather and its changes, to decide when and how many prescribed burns will occur in an area during a specific time.

She says for the rest of us not involved in these controlled environments, avoid piling up yard or storm debris, and lighting it on fire as it could quickly get out of control and damage your home and property.