South County

Prescribed burns to take place in Deer Prairie Creek Preserve and Schewe Tract

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Incidents planned from this month through September

Deer Prairie Creek Preserve is one of the county’s natural lands in South County. Photo courtesy Sarasota County

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) will be conducting prescribed burns from this month through September in Deer Prairie Creek Preserve and in the Schewe Tract in Sarasota County, SWFWMD has announced.

Those areas are west of North Port, east of the Myakka River, and north and south of Interstate 75, a news release notes.

“Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control, as many Floridians witnessed during the state’s wildfire emergency in 2017,” the release explains.

“Approximately 600 acres will be burned in small, manageable units [in Sarasota County],” the release adds.

Among major benefits of prescribed fires are the following, the release says:

  • Reducing the extent of plant overgrowth, thereby decreasing the risk of catastrophic wildfires.
  • Promoting the growth of new, diverse plants.
  • Maintaining the character and condition of wildlife habitat.
  • Maintaining access for public recreation.