PRESCRIBED BURN PLANNED FOR FEBRUARY 6 AT  BOYD HILL NATURE PRESERVE

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. (February 5, 2013) – Officials at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S. in St. Petersburg, are planning a prescribed burn for tomorrow, Wednesday, February 6 beginning at approximately 9:30 a.m., weather permitting. Weather is crucial in determining that a prescribed burn is conducted under the safest conditions possible and to allow for proper smoke dispersion. The Florida Division of Forestry, St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue and Boyd Hill Nature Preserve staff supervises and conducts prescribed burns. 

The burn is expected to be completed by the end of the day. Smoke from the burn is likely to disperse over Boyd Hill Nature Preserve andLake Maggiore. The Preserve’s trails will be closed on the day of the prescribed burn (February 6) but the picnic area and education center will be open. If the weather forecast is considered unfavorable for the planned burn, the burn will be canceled and the media will be notified of the rescheduled date.

Prescribed burning reduces the risk of dangerous and destructive wildfires by consuming the natural build-up of dead vegetation. Additional benefits include natural pine regeneration, new growth of nutritious plants for wildlife to eat, recycling of nutrients into the soil (ash), maintaining a healthy habitat for Gopher Tortoises, control of domineering vines and hardwoods in the pineland and scrub habitat, reduction in the cost of mowing and manual land maintenance, and improvement of the appearance of the landscape.

For more information, call Boyd Hill Nature Preserve at (727) 893-7326.