- This event has passed.
RX BURN (Gates closed!)
June 1, 2022 @ 8:00 am - June 2, 2022 @ 12:00 pm
– IMPORTANT NOTICE –
Heartwood Preserve will be closed to all visitors
all day WEDNESDAY JUNE 1st
and until noon THURSDAY JUNE 2nd, 2022
for a Prescribed Burn.
*GATES CLOSED*
Our longleaf pine flatwoods ecosystem depends on the regular occurrence of fire. We are planning a Prescribed Burn WEDNESDAY 6/1. During the Burn, we will be closed to all visitors. No one except staff and crew is permitted to enter. This is for the safety of all. We will re-open by noon on THURSDAY. All activities will take the utmost care to not disturb our burial sites. This burn in particular will be for the PAW-PAW, BLAZING STAR & PALMETTO Areas.
Planning for our Prescribed Burn depends on weather conditions and other factors. We usually don’t know until the day before if we will burn, so your patience and flexibility are greatly appreciated. Weather also changes and can cause us to postpone last minute. If we don’t burn Wednesday due to weather, we will try again asap. Please check our Facebook page or give us a call to get the most up-to-date information on our closings. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Prescribed Fire (also called “Control Burn”) at Heartwood Preserve is authorized and assisted by the Florida Forestry Service (FFS) and managed by our own FFS certified prescribed burn manager and experienced burn crew. Pasco Fire Department is notified once we receive our FFS authorization on the day of the burn, and signs are posted along Starkey Boulevard to notify the public passing by.
Things to Know About Prescribed Fire
Prescribed Fire serves several ecological purposes.
- Reduces the amount of “fuel” (branches, twigs, leaves) that can make fires burn too intensely
- Converts organic matter into nutrients and minerals to be absorbed by the living plants
- Stimulates new growth following the burn, providing food for wildlife
- Maintains an open understory, exposing the soil to allow seeds to germinate, spurring new trees, shrubs and wildflowers.
Following our burn, we have planned 2 special tours of the burn area, (Private Tour for Heartwood Families 7/8/22 & Community Rx Burn Educational Tour 7/9/22) so you can see for yourself the amazing and transformative effects of nature’s most incredible of tools: fire.
If you want more information or have any questions, please call or email us. You can also check out our website to learn more about the importance of fire on this unique landscape. https://heartwoodpreserve.com/nature-preserve/
Thank you,
Laura Starkey
Posted: 5/31/2022