The recent wildfires in Southern California have led to an unprecedented scope of destruction and as a result, has thrust forest fire prevention into the forefront of the nation and the state of Florida.
According to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Services, prescribed fires are one of the most effective fire prevention tools available to and used by Floridians.
There was a prescribed burn that took place at the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve near Nocatee a couple of weeks ago, and they can be spotted from miles away due to the smoke cloud they can create.
However, residents should not be alarmed, as Florida’s ecosystems are highly dependent on recurrent fires, and many landowners rely on prescribed fire to manage their property.
A recent peer-reviewed document was published highlighting resources for private landowners, including educational websites, training opportunities and a database of forest management-related service providers.
The document can be found at www.edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/fr481.
“Fires can be safely used to manage many of our natural areas, improving the health of our lands and reducing the probability of costly, catastrophic wildfires,” said document author Raelene Crandall, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of fire ecology.
The document was produced thanks to a collaborative effort between UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries and Geomatics Sciences researchers and natural resources Extension agents, as well as regional and state fire officials.
The Florida Forest Service oversees one of the most active prescribed fire programs in the country. In an average year, the Florida Forest Service will issue approximately 88,000 authorizations allowing landowners and agencies to prescribe burn over 2.1 million acres., with most of the burns occurring between December and March, due to the ideal combination of cooler temperatures and winds that are more predictable than other times of the year.
They have regulatory authority over all wildland fires in Florida. They oversee the state’s certified prescribed burner program, which provides training and oversight for burners.
The agency also provides assistance to landowners to meet resource management objectives, often in conjunction with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Florida currently has two established prescribed burn associations, including the North Florida PBA. Members of the association work together to provide assistance, equipment, and training to increase fire use on member land.
According to Crandall, in addition to clearing excessive vegetation that can contribute to the spread of wildfire, the prescribed burns also help maintain forest structure by reducing shrub growth and recruitment of trees into the upper foliage layer.
The minimized tree canopy allows in more light, favoring plant diversity, and it is common to see more plants and animals in areas where prescribed fires have burned.
Crandall suggests that landowners new to prescribed burning start by reaching out to the Florida Forest Service.
“I hope this publication helps landowners find the resources that will most benefit them and increase the acreage of safe and effective prescribed fires on the ground,” she said.
