Do you smell smoke on Old Cutler Road in the Palmetto Bay area? Here’s what happened

Residents in parts of Palmetto Bay smelled the strong odor of smoke and saw thick air hovering over the eastern edge of Coral Reef Drive on Wednesday.

That’s because the pine rockland, a preserve of tall South Florida slash pines growing out of limestone soil located next to the Deering Estate, was burning.

“This is very sad. There’s not a lot of places left like this. This is part of the uniqueness of this area.” said Esleyda Medina, 56, who’s lived in the area for six years. “We’re mourning something that was beautiful.”

But, it turns out, there was no need for mourning. The burn was on purpose — a prescribed burn — and, it was conducted by Miami-Dade County’s Natural Areas Management Division for the benefit and survival of unique plants and animals living there.

According to the division’s biologist, Jenny Novak, periodic burns are essential for preserving the pine rocklands, a diverse and sensitive ecosystem most visible by its slash pine canopy, but with various other native flora and fauna underneath, including saw palmetto plants and sable palms and animals like the gopher tortoise.

Pine rocklands used to be prevalent in South Florida, but are almost all gone due to urban, suburban and agricultural development, according to the county.

As for the fire, it’s necessary for the slash pines to thrive. They’re actually “fire-dependent” trees that need space, Novak said. Without periodic fires, thick undergrowth of vegetation, grass and other trees crowd out the pines and don’t allow for the space and sunlight they need to grow, according to the National Park Service.

The county conducts controlled burns at the Deering pine rockland every two or three years, Novak said. And, for those fearing the latest prescribed fires destroyed or permanently damaged the preserve, don’t worry. Everything will be back soon, Novak said.

“You’ll be surprised how fast it’ll come back and turn green again,” she said.