FLORIDA — Prescribed burns are being conducted across three Central Florida counties on Tuesday, Feb. 18, to help prevent wildfires. 

The Orlando Utilities Commission started a series of prescribed burns at about 10 a.m. Tuesday at Stanton Energy Center in the north section, in southeastern Orange County, to try to reduce brush buildup that can fuel wildfires.

According to the utility, it will burn about 70 acres of vegetation.

The burn also will enhance habitat for the red-cockaded woodpecker, a threatened bird that lives in Central Florida and other parts of the Southeastern United States, OUC said in its announcement.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Florida Division of Forestry and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission require annual prescribed burns to support environmental growth and sustainability by recycling nutrients back into the soil and nurturing plant growth, according to OUC.

In Volusia County, the city of Port Orange will conduct a prescribed burn in the City Forest. The City Forest is a 10,000-acre conservation area west of I-95 and Tomoka Farms Road.

The city said prescribed burns are essential for maintaining a healthy environment by reducing wildifre risks, promoting new plant growth and improving wildlife habitats. 

Brevard County is also conducting a 60-acre prescribed burn west of I-95 and north of Wickham Road in Viera. On Monday, Brevard County Emergency Management conducted two other burns, one near the Brevard/Indian River County line, and a 400-acre burn west of I-95 and south of US 192 near the Brevard/Osceola line.