Florida Forest Service- Jacksonville District

09/10/2026

FORESTRY SHOWCASE

State Forest Awareness Month at Indian Lake State Forest

EVERYONE WELCOME

When: Saturday, October 10, 9am-11am

Where: Indian Lake State Forest Recreation Area
8423 N.E. 58th Avenue, Anthony, FL

• Drone Demonstration
• Longleaf Pine Giveaway
• Discover recreational opportunities at Indian Lake State Forest
• Learn about forest management
• View our firefighting equipment

09/10/2026

COUNTY: St. Johns

The Florida Forest Service - Jacksonville Forestry Center will be conducting two separate prescribed burnings on the Matanza State Forest today, September 10, 2026, for a total of 21-acres. Today's burning operations are being conducted for Silviculture--Ecological purposes. If you are visiting the Matanza State Forest today, please exercise caution.
St. Johns County Fire Rescue Florida Highway Patrol Friends of Florida State Forests Florida State Parks WJXT4 The Local Station / News4JAX First Coast News Action News Jax The News4Jax Weather Authority

09/10/2026

09/08/2026

🏆 Resource Manager of the Year Award 🏆

Join us in congratulating Calhoun County Forest Area Supervisor Matthew Mayo, this year’s recipient of the Jim Stevenson Resource Manager of the Year Award for his unwavering commitment to Florida’s natural resources, his exceptional leadership in restoring and improving state lands, and his innovative approaches to land management.

This past year, Mayo worked to repair access to the state’s newest State Forest – Sandy Creek State Forest in Bay County. He successfully led the effort to complete a 4-mile road through the core of Sandy Creek by securing additional funding and coordinating logistics across FFS bureaus. This road now serves as a critical management corridor for prescribed burning, restoration efforts, public access planning, and emergency response.

Mayo’s commitment to resource stewardship has transformed Sandy Creek State Forest from a newly acquired property with access, hydrology, and protection challenges into a functional, actively managed landscape with a clear trajectory toward ecological restoration and multiple-use public benefit.

The Jim Stevenson Award is one of Florida's highest environmental honors, given annually by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to exceptional land managers.

08/14/2026

COUNTY: St. Johns

A private landowner will be conducting a 100-acre prescribed burning off of CR-13A North and POA Boy Farms Rd. Today's burning operation is being conducted for Silviculture--Ecological purposes and is a continuation of yesterday's burning operation. If you are in the area of today's burning operation, please exercise caution.

St. Johns County Fire Rescue First Coast News WJXT4 The Local Station / News4JAX Action News Jax The News4Jax Weather Authority

08/13/2026

COUNTY: St. Johns

A private landowner will be conducting a 100-acre prescribed burning off of CR-13A North and POA Boy Farms Rd. Today's burning operation is being conducted for Silviculture--Ecological purposes. If you are in the area of today's burning operation, please exercise caution.

St. Johns County Fire Rescue First Coast News WJXT4 The Local Station / News4JAX Action News Jax Florida Highway Patrol

08/11/2026

COUNTY: St. Johns

A private landowner will be conducting a 200-acre prescribed burning off of CR-13A North and POA Boy Farms Rd. Today's burning operation is being conducted for Silviculture--Ecological purposes. If you are in the area of today's burning operation, please exercise caution.

St. Johns County Fire Rescue St. Johns River Water Management District Florida Highway Patrol First Coast News WJXT4 The Local Station / News4JAX Action News Jax The News4Jax Weather Authority

08/07/2026

08/07/2026

🐻 Happy Birthday, Smokey 🐻

Join the Florida Forest Service this weekend in wishing our friend Smokey Bear a happy 82nd birthday on Sunday.

For over eight decades, Smokey has been the most recognizable symbol of effective wildfire prevention education. Smokey Bear’s message, “Only you can prevent wildfires,” has helped reduce the average number of U.S. acres affected by wildfires.

Nearly eight out of 10 wildfires in Florida are caused by humans and are thus preventable. Already this year, Florida has experienced almost 3,000 wildfires across the state, burning approximately 265,000 acres.

There are many tools that can help reduce the chances of a catastrophic wildfire, including properly extinguishing campfires, safely burning yard waste, utilizing prescribed burning, and reporting a potential wildfire or suspicious arson activity.

For more information about how you can help prevent wildfires, visit BeWildfireReadyFL.com.

08/06/2026