Early this morning, the skies above Coconut Creek began to darken, not with ominous storm clouds, but with smoke from a controlled environmental effort. The Broward County Parks and Recreation Division, teamed up with the Florida Forest Service, initiated a controlled burn at Fern Forest Nature Center, as reported by the City of Margate's official website.
Starting at 10 a.m., the burn was implemented to help reduce the risk of severe wildfires and to fortify the health of the ecosystem. While the procedure is a necessity for maintaining the landscape, it did result in visible smoke in the nearby city of Margate.
To keep the public informed, the City of Margate issued a cautionary statement. According to their official release, "Residents with lung or heart issues, the elderly, and small children should stay indoors or leave the area if smoke becomes an issue." For more information and updates on the burn and air quality, the Broward County Parks and Recreation Division encouraged residents to check their website and local news outlets.
