Florida has spent months battling wildfires during one of the worst droughts in its history. Just as the water tables finally start bouncing back and the smoky haze clears out, things are shifting gears.
Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., assuming the weather stays cooperative, crews from the Southwest Florida Water Management District will set a 157-acre prescribed fire at Deer Prairie Creek in Sarasota County. You’ll find the site about a mile and a half south of I-75 and less than a mile east of US-41.
These burns aren’t random. Prescribed fires help prevent destructive wildfires and keep Florida’s conservation lands healthy. They clear out overgrown brush, knock back invasive species, and help native plants and animals thrive. The District carries out these burns on a regular cycle, always with approval from the Florida Forest Service and a careful eye on safety and weather.
If you want updates, you can sign up for email or text alerts about all prescribed burns at WaterMatters.org/PrescribedBurnsAlerts. And before worrying about smoke or flames tomorrow, check if it’s a planned fire. Chances are, it’s just the SWFWMD fire at Deer Prairie Creek, working to keep our wild places healthy.
For more information, visit WaterMatters.org/PrescribedBurns.
