A prescribed burn is taking place today at the Alafia River Corridor Nature Preserve (ARC) in Lithia, FL, located at 9302 Lithia-Pinecrest Rd. The burn is part of an effort to maintain the ecosystem by mimicking natural fire cycles, promoting native vegetation, and reducing the risk of wildfires, according to the CELM Bell Creek Office, as per the Hillsborough County announcement.

According to Hillsborough County, fire is being used as a management tool to maintain the land by removing excess vegetation and enriching the soil. For updates or questions, Todd Pratt, Media Relations Strategist, can be contacted at (813) 276-2409 or (813) 373-1023. The Florida Forest Service Lakeland Dispatch can be reached at (863) 940-6701 for more information.

Despite the burn, all public trails in the area will remain open. For more information about the burn, details can be found on the Hillsborough County website.