Wildfire reported on two district properties

at

PALM BAY, Fla., March 15, 2017 — A wildfire is reported on St. Johns River Water Management District property and a second fire is burning toward district land.

One fire is burning on private land and heading toward Canaveral Marshes Conservation Area southeast of the St. Johns River channel. The Florida Forest Service has plowed a protective fire line on district property and district staff have begun an operation to burn the fire out. Smoke is impacting nearby State Road 520.

A second fire of unknown size is burning at Seminole Ranch Conservation Area on both sides of the St. Johns River channel, west of Sawgrass Road. District staff are assessing the fire using an airboat. Partnering agencies are the Florida Forest Service and Seminole County Fire Rescue.

To date, rainfall trends for 2017 have been below average with future predictions for similar trends, creating conditions favorable to wildfire.

Additional information will be shared as it becomes available. Please contact Ed Garland at 321-676-6612 with any media inquiries.