As drought conditions bake the Florida landscape and wildfires begin to crop up, that familiar scent of woodsmoke is becoming a daily reality for many residents. While a hazy horizon often triggers immediate concern, experts with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) suggest that seeing smoke isn’t always a reason to call 911—it might actually be a sign of proactive safety measures.
“If you live in Florida, seeing or smelling smoke is just part of life here, and that’s actually a good sign that land managers are doing their job,” explains Raelene Crandall, an associate professor of fire ecology at the UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences.
According to Crandall, the real challenge for the public is simply “knowing where it’s coming from and what to do about it.”
To help clear the air, UF/IFAS has released a new public guide titled “See Smoke? Smell Smoke? Be in the Know.” The publication clarifies that much of the haze over the Sunshine State is the result of prescribed burns—planned fires used to clear out undergrowth that would otherwise fuel uncontrollable wildfires.
READ: ‘Operation Dirty 30s’ Topples RMS Gang In Central Florida As 9 Plead Guilty In Takedown
Research cited in the guide shows that areas treated with prescribed burns experience roughly 16% less damage and 14% less smoke when an actual wildfire occurs. Furthermore, the risk of a dangerous fire spikes significantly just two to three years after an area’s last controlled burn, making regular maintenance a necessity for forest health.
“We don’t want people to panic when they smell smoke,” Crandall says. “There are some really simple, free tools online that can tell you in minutes whether there’s a prescribed fire or wildfire nearby. Knowledge is the best first step.”
The guide directs residents to real-time resources like WhyPrescribedFire.org and the Florida Forest Service Fire Response Viewer. These tools allow users to see exactly where active burns are located, helping them decide whether to close their windows or cancel outdoor plans.
Because Florida is a peninsula, sea and land breezes usually help disperse smoke quickly, though the guide notes that smoke can travel hundreds of miles. This means a hazy afternoon in Orlando could be caused by a fire in a completely different state.
Even with the ecological benefits, the authors emphasize that vulnerable groups—including children, the elderly, and those with asthma—should still monitor air quality levels closely.
“Much of the smoke people notice comes from prescribed fires, which are carefully planned to reduce wildfire risk and support healthy ecosystems,” Crandall says. “Knowing that, and knowing where to check for information, can help people better understand what they’re smelling and seeing.”
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
