TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) - The Tucson Fire Department, in collaboration with Tucson Water, is conducting its annual controlled burn at the Sweetwater Wetlands. The event started early Wednesday morning and aims to support both visitor experiences and firefighter training.

The park has been closed since 8 a.m., with many westside residents noticing the activity.

“I saw it coming off the freeway. Like a big fire. I wasn’t sure what it was,” Rafael Moreno, a Westside resident, said.

The controlled burn is a regular practice to manage the wetlands and keep mosquito populations at bay, according to John Kmiec, director of Tucson Water.

“To ensure that we can manage the wetlands properly and particularly keep mosquitoes at bay every now and then. And we have been doing it annually for several ye

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