Crews will begin prescribed burns on about 400 acres at the Shoal River Preserve in northeast Okaloosa County later this week, with minimal smoke impacts expected for nearby residents.
- The weather-dependent operation will continue into February.
Okaloosa County’s Land Resources Division is coordinating the burns with the Florida Forest Service, Okaloosa County Public Safety and several area fire departments, including North Okaloosa, Crestview and Dorcas.
“These burns are a necessary part of creating a healthy wildlife habitat and an important part of creating an ideal space that will soon be open for the enjoyment of residents and visitors,” said Okaloosa County Board Chairman Trey Goodwin.
The roughly 408-acre preserve sits along the north shore of the Shoal River near Crestview and features mixed pine and hardwood forest. Tourism revenue funded the purchase.
Prescribed burns reduce wildfire risk by clearing overgrowth, making any wildfires that do occur less severe and easier for firefighters to control. The burns also benefit native habitats by creating openings in vegetation, improving nutrient availability and promoting fresh plant growth.
- Florida ranks among the top states nationally for prescribed fire use.
The preserve will offer hiking, paddling and bird watching when it opens to the public in spring 2026.
“Okaloosa County is fortunate to have a robust tourism industry that has funded the purchase of this land and others in north Okaloosa County to leave a lasting positive impact for the public,” Goodwin said.
