Shanty Pond Prescribed Fire Vehicle Accidents 2023

The Lake George Ranger District on the Ocala National Forest began the 2023 burn season by planning and treating the area with prescribed fire on the Shanty Pond Prescribed Fire units located southwest of Salt Springs, Florida. This entire prescribed fire area covers approximately 1,400 acres. Although the highways to the north were a consideration for potential smoke impacts, the Rx area needed a southern wind component to decrease the spotting potential in the receptive fuels to the south. Two days after ignitions began, on January 19, four vehicles on Highway 314 were involved in a pile-up accident due to low visibility. Ten minutes later an ambulance was rear-ended. There were no reported injuries. 

RLS