District achieves milestone in prescribed burn acreage
Prescribed fire helps reduce the possibility of dangerous wildfire while enhancing land’s environmental quality. Aerial ignition allows District staff to ignite fires more quickly, which results in faster burnout and less lingering smoke, and also allows staff to introduce fire into areas that may be inaccessible from the ground, ensuring that prescribed fire is introduced into even the most remote areas of a property.
PALATKA, Fla., Aug. 12, 2021 — The St. Johns River Water Management District achieved a new milestone in July, hitting an all-time annual high 52,289 acres of District lands receiving prescribed burns. And there is still more than a month left in the current fiscal year.
The District’s previous record was 51,693 acres set in fiscal year 2008.
“Prescribed fire is a critical part of maintaining many of the fire-dependent communities on District lands, not to mention reducing the risk of wildfires,” said St. Johns River Water Management District Executive Director Dr. Ann Shortelle. “Prescribed fire is our most cost-effective tool for managing the lands we have purchased for water resource protection. This milestone is an impressive achievement by our Land Resources team. Thanks for a job done very well, with great care and expertise.”
Prescribed fire is the use of carefully planned fire purposefully set under stringent conditions to manage the fire’s effects. Before conducting any burn, District staff ensure that wind direction and speed among other environmental conditions are correct for achieving burn goals while minimizing the impacts of smoke to the public. The Florida Forest Service (FFS) reviews each proposed burn and issues the appropriate authorization.
Periodic prescribed fires on District lands enhance the land’s environmental quality and protect its neighbors from destructive wildfires, but not without the possibility of temporary nuisances, such as smoke and ash. Many of Florida’s ecological communities are not just fire tolerant, but fire-dependent, requiring period burns to maintain their overall health and vitality. Prescribed fires help prevent wildfires by burning off fuels that naturally build up over time, while also helping to manage the growth of woody shrubs and undesirable invasive species.
Prescribed fire helps reduce the possibility of dangerous wildfire while enhancing land’s environmental quality. Aerial ignition allows District staff to ignite fires more quickly, which results in faster burnout and less lingering smoke, and also allows staff to introduce fire into areas that may be inaccessible from the ground, ensuring that prescribed fire is introduced into even the most remote areas of a property.
This year’s prescribed burn breakdown by county is:
- Alachua — 3,789 acres
- Brevard — 23,550 acres
- Clay — 1,701 acres
- Duval — 259 acres
- Flagler — 108 acres
- Indian River — 13,394 acres
- Lake — 2,550 acres
- Marion — 1,850 acres
- Orange — 2,722 acres
- Putnam — 503 acres
- Johns — 795 acres
- Volusia — 1,068 acres
In fire-dependent ecosystems, fire is as nearly as important as rainfall and sunshine. The benefits of prescribed fire include restoring and maintaining natural communities, reducing chances of destructive wildfires, perpetuating native fire-adapted plants and animals, cycling nutrients, managing tree diseases and opening scenic vistas.
The District works with the FFS and local communities through the Firewise program to educate our neighbors on the many benefits of prescribed fire. Follow the District on social media to know when prescribed burns are taking place in your area. To learn more about the District’s prescribed burn program, visit the District online at www.sjrwmd.com/lands/management/prescribedfire or follow the conversation at #RXburn #goodfire #sjrwmd.