A controlled burn just south of Maricopa sent dark smoke high above the city today.

The controlled burn took place in fields off of John Wayne Parkway and Peters and Nall Road around 1 p.m. The fields are owned by a Canadian company called Papago & JHC, according to the Pinal County Assessor’s Office. It is an annual burn done by Pratt Farms.

Workers on scene said the fire was a controlled burn and was being monitored closely.

Despite the dramatic smoke, these fires are so common, fire departments aren’t involved. Rural fire district Thunderbird Fire Department, Maricopa and Ak-Chin Fire were not at the burn. Allen Alcott with Thunderbird said these farmers “kind of do their own thing.”

Controlled burns are typically used to clear weeds, return nutrients to the soil or destroy dead vegetation that could be fuel for wildfires.

This is a breaking story, check back for updates.