FAIRBORN, Ohio - Officials at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base are alerting the public that any smoke seen in the vicinity of the base is completely and totally intentional.

Environmental personnel with the base say they are conducting a controlled burn on Huffman Prairie in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Officials say the burn is designed to maintain and expand existing prairie vegetation as well as prohibit the spread of invasive woody species throughout the prairie.

The fire will send black smoke into the air, which will be visible to all nearby residents, base personnel, and those traveling on thoroughfares like I-675, OH-4, OH-444, and OH-235. Base administrators say they want to return Huffman Prairie to its natural state.