Monday, February 8, 2016

Goethe State Forest Conducting 8,525 Acre Prescribed Burn This Week


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ludie Bond
February 8, 2016
(352) 395-4943, cell (352) 258-6084
Twitter: @FFS_Waccasassa
 
         
Gainesville, FL – The Florida Forest Service will be conducting an 8,525 acre prescribed burn this week on Goethe State Forest beginning Tuesday, February 9. The prescribed burn operation should take two days to complete.  Roadclosures will be in place at northbound SR 121 at US 19 and at southbound SR 121 at CR 326.  In addition, CR 337 between SR 121 and CR 326 will also be closed due to smoky conditions and heavy equipment working in the area.  Drivers should use caution.
 
This prescribed burn will be conducted by a Florida Forest Service helicopter and ground crews.  Traffic control on the roads surrounding the affected area will be under the direction of the Florida Highway Patrol and the Levy County Sheriff’s Office. Drivers and residents are reminded of the possibility of smoke on the road during prescribed burns. If the public encounters smoke on the highways, slow down, turn on your low beams and drive appropriately under the conditions
 
The Florida Forest Service is reminding citizens and landowners that the benefits of prescribed fire in Florida are plentiful, and include:
·         Providing improved forage for wildlife and livestock
·         Returning nutrients to the soil
·         Helping control certain plant diseases
·         Reducing the buildup of dry and flammable plant materials
 
The Florida Forest Service manages more than one million acres of public forestland while protecting 26 million acres of homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfires.  Learn more about the Florida Forest Service.
 
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