Prescribed fires planned for Guana River WMA
News Release
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Media contact: Joy Hill, 352-258-3426
Wildlife biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission (FWC) in St. Johns County plan to burn more
than 1,900 acres in Guana River Wildlife Management Area (WMA)
during the upcoming 2012 prescribed fire season.
Biologists specially trained to safely conduct these controlled
fires carefully watch the weather conditions, which must meet
specific criteria, before conducting a burn. In addition, the
Florida Forest Service must issue the FWC a burn permit for each
planned fire.
There are more than 19 burns scheduled this winter at Guana
River WMA. These controlled burns improve habitat for various
wildlife species, including imperiled species. They are also a land
manager's tool to reduce wildfire hazards, control invasive and/or
exotic vegetation, control plant diseases that harm native
vegetation, enhance native ground cover plants and seed production,
and restore and maintain fire-dependent ecological sites.
While the burns are in progress and for many hours afterward,
there is the potential for smoke along roads near the fires,
including A1A. The FWC cautions motorists to drive slowly with
lights on while traveling in smoky areas.
People who are sensitive to smoke may contact the FWC at
352-732-1225 and ask to be placed on a notification list for future
burns at Guana River WMA.
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