OCALA, FL (352today.com) – There’s a noticeable haze hanging over Ocala Thursday afternoon.
The U.S. Forest Service says don’t be alarmed. The smoke is coming from a prescribed fire in the Ocala National Forest.
“A prescribed fire is a planned and controlled fire that is used to manage the forest and reduce the risk of wildfires,” said the U.S. Forest Service in a Facebook post. Prescribed fires have many benefits for the environment and the community, such as improving wildlife habitat, increasing water availability, and enhancing plant diversity.”
The forest service has been performing controlled burns across North Central Florida for the last several weeks.
They say the burns are being conducted by trained professionals who follow strict safety protocols.
The forest service has an interactive map where you can track the status of prescribed burns around the state.