Suwannee River Water Management District (District) and Department of Forestry officials plan to conduct a prescribed burn this week on 850 acres in the southeastern portion of Mallory Swamp near the Dixie-Lafayette county line.



The burn is expected to take from one to two days, during which time the area will be closed to the public. If weather conditions are not favorable for burning, the work will be rescheduled sometime later in June.



Due to the types of equipment being used, officials say large plumes of smoke may be visible, but the public should not be concerned. “We have a number of measures in place to ensure the fire remains under control,” said Brian Kauffman, District land resource manager.



Local private contractors and staff from the St. Johns River Water Management District will provide additional assistance with the burn.



Fire helps keep nature in balance, and prescribed burns help restore the native plant communities by mimicking natural fire cycles. Prescribed burns also decrease the chance of devastating wildfires such as the one that occurred in Mallory Swamp in 2001, in which more than 60,000 acres were destroyed, along with wildlife and valuable timber.