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​Sweetbay Natural Area Prescribed Burn

ERM staff will be conducting a prescribed burn at Sweetbay Natural Area just west of the North County Airport off the Beeline Highway. Prescribed burns are conducted to sustain fire-adapted vegetation communities on the natural areas and to reduce onsite fuel loads to prevent the occurrence of catastrophic wildfires.  Additional support from Palm Beach County Fire Rescue and Florida Forestry Service will be on hand assisting in the burn. The natural area will be closed while burn activities are conducted. 

What is a prescribed burn?

A prescribed burn is an intentional fire set under carefully controlled conditions to achieve certain land management objectives. These conditions include specific requirements for time of year, temperature, humidity, wind direction, wind speed, and moisture content of the vegetation to be burned.

Why do a prescribed burn?

The primary objectives of the burns are to enhance and maintain the site’s pine flatwoods ecosystem, which is a fire-dependent community, and to reduce the possibility of a destructive wildfire that may threaten properties in the area. In addition, prescribed burning is necessary to maintain and enhance the site’s wildlife habitat.