Controlled burn closes Sweetwater Wetlands on Tucson's west side

Starting Wednesday, the Sweetwater Wetlands will be closed for its annual controlled burn conducted by Tucson Water and the Tucson Fire Department.

The burn begins about 8 a.m. and will last until about 5 p.m., Tucson Water said Tuesday in a news release.

Areas within close range of the burn site, at 2511 W. Sweetwater Drive, may see and smell smoke or light ash due to the burning. People who are sensitive to smoke or ash from the burn are asked to “take precautionary measures and/or avoid the area,” the utility said.

Conducted annually since 1999, the burn is part of Tucson Water’s Mosquito Abatement Program and is “a critical open-area training exercise for regional wildlands firefighters,” the news release said.

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This year’s burn, which only includes one basin, will remove “dead vegetation which can protect aquatic mosquito larvae during their development,” making the application of a low-grade larvicide more effective, the utility said.

The park will be closed to the public through Thursday and will reopen on Friday.