Vegetation to be cleared behind Palmetto Trace

The Florida Forestry Service (FFS) has received a mitigation agreement from St. Joe Timberlands and the Palmetto Trace  HOA president to gain access to the north side of Palmetto Trace for a mitigation project to reduce underbrush that could result in property damage during a wildfire.

The FFS will create a 50-ft. buffer (defensible space) behind Palmetto Trace, a residential subdivision located off Pier Park Drive. The process of reducing the wildfire risk will include reduction or elimination of hazardous dead and downed trees and vegetative materials through mechanical fire treatments utilizing a Raptor 500. This machine is designed for land clearance, vegetation management around pipelines and power supply lines, and the creation of firebreaks.

Vegetative materials and trees six inches or less in diameter will be mowed/mulched to create fire lines. Although these treatments do leave behind woody debris, the debris will decompose to a more manageable height in the event of a wildfire.

Communications Director Debbie Ingram can be reached at (850) 233-5100, Ext. 2261.