INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Residents on Interstate 95 or County Road 512 might see smoke Tuesday from a 547-acre prescribed burn at a state park.
The controlled burn was being held in the southeast quadrant of St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Park Manager Dylan Gavagni said. The park stretches from southern Brevard County to northern Indian River County.
Gavagni said park officials started scorching mesic flatwoods about 10 a.m. and that the smoke would clear about sunset.
The prescribed burns help prevent uncontrollable wildfires by destroying fire fuels, including undergrowth, Gavagni said. The burns also lead to ecological restoration.
Gavagni said park officials will be conducting more burns all around the state park for the next 10 days. Park officials received authorization from Florida Forest Service to hold the controlled burns.
