Annual event seeks to inform the public about the importance of fire to the ecosystem
On Saturday, Jan. 27, Sarasota County’s Fire Fest will be held once again on the T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Memorial Reserve in Venice, the county has announced.
“The annual event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1800 Mabry Carlton Parkway, seeks to educate and inform the public about the importance of fire to the ecosystem,” a news release explains. Staff members of the Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department, along with those from Emergency Services, “will demonstrate the process of why the county schedules prescribed burns, why it’s beneficial to native habitats and wildlife and how the county manages fire,” the release adds.
The free event will feature prescribed burn demonstrations, local exhibitors, helicopter water drops, games, nature walks, free food and refreshments, the release notes.
Sarasota County is committed to environmental stewardship, the release points out, and “Fire Fest supports that commitment by demonstrating the value of prescribed burns in protecting public lands and surrounding communities.”
For more information, call the county Contact Center at 861-5000 or visit www.scgov.net.