Record Number of Prescribed Burns in Florida This Year

State officials say they’ve overseen a record number of prescribed burns over the past year.

The Florida Forest Service reported prescribed fires covering more than 2.5 million acres. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says that’s one of the highest numbers ever reported by any state in the country.

Prescribed burns help reduce the buildup of flammable plant materials that can fuel wildfires. They also help with disease control in pine trees and the preservation of some endangered plants and animals.