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Prescribed Burns Hit National Forests in North Florida

The Ocala and Osceola National Forests will be burning today- but it's on doctor's orders.

The U.S. Forest Service scheduled prescribed burns in the forests. While the burns benefit the environment, motorists have been encouraged to drive with caution on smoky or hazy roadways surrounding the burn areas.

The 100-acre Ocala burn will take place in Marion County, east of Forest Road 314A and north of Forest Road 49. In Baker County, forest rangers will burn 1,471 acres north of Forest Road 257 and south of Forest Road 284 near Olustee.

The burns aim to improve wildlife habitat, eliminate vegetation buildup and reduce the threat of wildfires, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Today's burns are part of a larger schedule of burns organized by the Forest Service. Smoke levels and any other updates on the Ocala and Osceola fires can be found on the Forest Service's website.

Glenn is a senior journalism major at UF. He has written for The Gainesville Sun and the Independent Florida Alligator.