Forestry Conducts Controlled Burns

March 6, 2009

Many days over the past week, smoke has been evident across North Escambia from many controlled burns that have been conducted around the area.

Those prescribed or controlled burns play a major role in maintaining the health of Florida’s forests and other natural areas, as well as protecting the safety of residents and visitors, Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson said.

In 2008, the Florida Cabinet designated the first week in March as “Prescribed Fire Awareness Week.”

“Prescribed Fire is a safe way to apply a natural process, ensure ecosystem health and reduce wildfire risk,” Bronson said. “Many of our plant and animal communities are dependent on a regular occurrence of fire for a healthy existence. Prescribed fire provides better forage for wildlife and livestock, returns nutrients to the soil, helps to control certain plant diseases, and reduces hazardous fuel buildups.”

According to state wildfire officials, Florida has been certifying prescribed burn managers since 1987, and every five years these individuals must have training and experience to remain certified. There are currently more than 1,500 certified prescribed burn managers in Florida helping to prescribe burn 2 million acres of land annually.

“Florida has one of the most extensive prescribed burning programs in the country and one of the best training programs for its certified prescribed burn managers,” Bronson said.

“Through our Division of Forestry, we promote the reduction of hazardous fuel buildups, especially in our wildland-urban interface areas,” Bronson said. “Prescribed burning helps provide protection to thousands of homeowners across Florida. A good example of this occurred in 2007 when the Bugaboo Fire north of Lake City was contained only after it went into an area that had been regularly prescribed burned.”

For more information about Florida’s Division of Forestry, including information about wildfires, visit the division’s web site at www.fl-dof.com.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News