Staff says first initiative could take place as early as July 1
Big Waters Land Trust plans to conduct three prescribed fires this summer, with the initiatives to begin as early as July 1, depending on weather conditions, the nonprofit announced this week.
The staff of the regional organization hopes to burn 16 acres at the Trust’s Tatum Sawgrass Scrub Preserve, along with 45 acres at its Myakka Headwaters Preserve — both located in Manatee County near the Myakka River in Myakka City — as well as 100 acres at its Pine Island Preserve, which is located in Lee County, a news release says.
“Prescribed fire is the controlled application of fire by a team of certified fire experts under specific weather conditions,” the release explains. “This land management technique provides the natural benefits of fire while maintaining the safety of the community,” the release adds.
“The burns will be conducted by a certified burn boss in coordination with the Pine Island Fire Control District and East Manatee Fire Rescue, in their respective jurisdictions, the release points out. Before any prescribed fire takes place, the release explains, the organization planning the initiative must obtain a burn prescription and burn permit from the Florida Forest Service.
Not only is Florida the lightning strike capital of North America, the release notes, but the state is home to “many native species that have adapted to regular fires over the course of thousands of years. Historically,” the release continues, “lightning-caused fires would burn freely across the landscape until they hit a natural barrier, such as a wetland or a river, vegetation too wet to burn, or an area that had limited plant material to fuel the fire.”
The release adds that many natural areas — such as pine flatwoods, scrub, and dry prairies — require a regular cycle of fire, typically every one to three years. The fires “reduce the overgrowth of shrubs and trees; maintain an open understory; and stimulate the fresh growth of a diverse array of wildflowers, grasses, and fruit-bearing plants that provide food for wildlife and release nutrients and minerals into the soil,” the release points out.
“Unfortunately, since the late 1800s, a culture of fire suppression has dominated the United States because most people think of fire as being destructive,” said Christine P. Johnson, president of Big Waters Land Trust, in the release. “But fire is a natural phenomenon and an integral force of nature! And by conducting prescribed burns,” she added, “we help restore the natural cycles our native species depend upon to thrive, while at the same time decreasing our community’s wildfire risk.”
“Fires, both human-made and natural, burn hotter in areas with excessive dead and dry plant material,” the release explains. “They are also more difficult to put out,” and they spread more easily into the built environment. “As Florida’s landscape is continually altered and urban development increases near natural areas,” the release continues, “extreme fires fueled by built-up plant litter become increasingly devastating for wildlife, our homes, and our businesses.
“The solution,” the release adds, “is regular, low-intensity maintenance fires, using prescribed burning practices. By routinely burning land using prescribed fire, Big Waters Land Trust and other land management organizations help protect the community by decreasing wildfire risk while improving the habitat for native plants and animals,” the release notes.
“In the days immediately before a prescribed burn,” the release points out, Big Waters Land Trust provides email notifications to community residents who have asked to be added to an email notification list. Prescribed fires are typically ignited at 10 a.m. and finished by the end of the day, the release adds. “Passersby may see smoke and flames.” The release further notes that signage will be present along affected roads during all permitted prescribed fires, “to provide notification that a prescribed fire is in progress.”
The release also explains, “Isolated tree stumps or logs safely within the interior may smolder for one to two days following fire”; they will be allowed to safely self-extinguish. Small amounts of smoke may persist for a day or two following fire.
To be added to the land trust’s prescribed burn email notification list, or to ask questions, contact Big Waters’ Land Stewardship Manager Lee Amos at l.amos@bwlt.org or 941-918-2100.
Additional information about prescribed fire in Florida may be found on the Florida Forest Service website at fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Wildland-Fire/Prescribed-Fire.