Controlled burn cause of heavy smoke

Orange County Fire Rescue identified the potential source of heavy smoke in West Orange County earlier this week. Controlled burns in nearby wildlife management areas included a 700-acre prescribed burn in Osceola County and a 158-acre burn in the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes management area.

Orange County District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson wrote a post on Facebook explaining the situation.

“Prescribed fire is an important tool that can be used to reduce the risk of severe wildfires,” she wrote. “Over time, many wildlife species depend on the nourishing vegetation that burst from fire-enriched soils. Safely controlled prescribed fire techniques are used to improve and maintain natural habitats.”