Now Reading: Smoke over Panama City from controlled burn, not wildfire
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Smoke over Panama City from controlled burn, not wildfire
Smoke that alarmed residents in Panama City, Southport, and Lynn Haven, Florida, on Thursday came from a 472-acre prescribed burn in the Breakfast Point area, not an uncontrolled wildfire, Times Now reported.…
The Story in Brief
Smoke that alarmed residents in Panama City, Southport, and Lynn Haven, Florida, on Thursday came from a 472-acre prescribed burn in the Breakfast Point area, not an uncontrolled wildfire, Times Now reported. The Panhandle Weather Facebook page said winds from the southwest carried the smoke northeast. The intense heat produced a pyrocumulus cloud, which can make a controlled burn appear more threatening. Officials said there was no immediate threat of the fire spreading.
The Indian Opinion
The panic over this smoke shows how easily a prescribed burn can be mistaken for a disaster. Florida routinely uses controlled fires to reduce wildfire fuel, but the pyrocumulus cloud makes it look far more menacing. Residents and social media alike jumped to conclusions. The real test will be whether officials communicate such burns better beforehand to avoid unnecessary alarm. A simple advance notice could save everyone a fright.
Source: timesnownews.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
