Training Burn Planned for Fort Pierce Park

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) _ A training burn is planned for a park in St. Lucie County.

The Florida Forest Service says the burn is set for Friday at the Lakewood Park Regional Park in Fort Pierce.

About five acres will be burned during the training, which officials say is to complete a section of a week-long training class.

The Florida Forest Service will be demonstrating wildland firefighting suppression techniques to 17 Indian River State Fire College Structure Firefighter recruits.

The training burn will also demonstrate the wildfire mitigation technique of prescribed burning.

Officials say that is a safe way to apply a natural process, ensure ecosystem health and reduce wildfire risks.

Smoke signs will notify local traffic about the small training burn.