By Bruce Ackerman

(Actually a still pulled from video)

Michael Josey, the senior forest ranger for the Division of Forestry in Marion County, walks past a cogon grass fire demonstration at the Indian Lake State Forest off of Northeast 40 Avenue Road in Ocala, Fla. on Wednesday, June 25, 2008. The burn demonstration was put on by Marion County Fire Rescue, the Division of Forestry and other members of the wildlands task force. Residents were warned about the dangers of cogon grass. Cogon grass is very flammable and residents were warned to not let it grow too close to their homes because of the fire danger. A backyard fire safety demonstration was also conducted where it was explained that residents are legally allowed to burn without a permit provided they follow specific guidlines. Residents can burn tree limbs, leaves or other brush in an 8 foot pit, but the fire must be 25 feet from brush or woods, 25 feet from any structures on  the property, 50 feet from any public paved road and 150 feet from any neighboring structures and must not be a nuisance to other people.