Friday, June 18, 2010 - Pinelands Closes For The Weekend Due To Wildfire

St. Lucie County's Environmental Resources Department has closed Pinelands Preserve through the weekend, after a lightning strike caused a small wildfire Thursday night.

The fire has been extinguished and crews are currently cleaning up "hot spots." The 750-acre site is expected to reopen Monday, June 21. St. Lucie County's preserves are open during daylight hours.

Part of St. Lucie County's Environmentally Significant Lands program, Pinelands Preserve is located at 7601 VPI Grove Road, Port St. Lucie and features six miles of trails and two observation decks. The site is part of the state's Great Florida Birding Trail.

For more information about the County's environmental preserves contact the St. Lucie County Environmental Resources Department at (772) 462-2526 or visit: www.stlucieco.gov/erd.