Fire set by arsonist Thursday was suppressed

One of the responsibilities of bringing nearly 700,000 acres of land throughout northeast and east-central Florida into public ownership is properly managing that land.

While providing passive public recreational opportunities, the St. Johns River Water Management District also strategically manages land to closely mimic natural conditions.

One effective land management technique involves the use of controlled, or prescribed, fire to enhance conditions for natural vegetation while also reducing the natural fuels and threat of wildfires. Prescribed fires are conducted by staff who have extensive training and experience and who ensure that the fires are controlled and impacts to neighborhoods and traffic are minimized.

Unfortunately, not everyone treats fire with the respect that they should, and arsonists do set some of the fires on public land, as occurred on Thursday.

Following our completion of a successful controlled burn on about 500 acres of public land in central Florida, District land managers spotted someone who they believed to be in the process of igniting a new fire. It’s rare that we catch an arsonist in the act of igniting a fire, and we were extremely fortunate to see this fire being set. We were also fortunate to be able to suppress the fire and someone was arrested.

Had the renegade fire not been found so soon after being set, it could have easily gotten out of control and made its way into urban areas. The potential impacts to people and property could have been devastating.

Anyone who suspects arson, regardless of whether a fire is set in an urban area or in a seemingly remote area, is encouraged to always call 911.