Area Smoke from Prescribed Burn

Did you smell smoke in the air today?

That odor and haze was caused by a large controlled burn conducted in Pasco County by Florida Fire Services.

What is a controlled burn? Check out this graphic from the Florida Forest Service:

Prescribed burn managers try to find a natural firebreak, such as a creek (1), from which they set down a wind backfire (3). This creates a blackline (2) at which the spot-headfires (set in successive ignitions (5, 6, 7) will stop. Crew members patrol a handline (4) to ensure that the burn is contained.