Updated: 2:30 p.m. March 18

Started: 5 hours ago, 8:48 a.m. March 18

Initial location: Houston County, Tex.

Fire type: Prescribed

Fire name: DCNF C-70/71 RX

The pile burning project, known as DCNF C-70/71 RX, was initiated today at 8:48 a.m. in in Houston County, Texas.

After being active for five hours, the prescribed fire has burned 1,693 acres of federal land managed by the United States Forest Service.

Prescribed fire (prescribed burn) is a wildfire prevention method that involves burning an area of land in a controlled manner to minimize the risk of catastrophic wildfires.

Source: National Interagency Fire Center