How it Started/How it’s Going: Florida’s Prescribed Fire Program

Since 1971, the Florida Park Service has used prescribed fire to preserve and maintain our natural resources.

Starting with Falling Waters State Park at our first planned and documented prescribed fire, our statewide prescribed fire program has grown to include state parks across Florida.

We manage approximately 290,000 acres of fire-type habitat, and we only keep improving. 

In 2019, we held our largest prescribed fire ever at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, which burned a massive 10,000 acres.

This January, Florida State Parks are celebrating the benefits of prescribed fire for Florida’s environment and how our own program has grown into one of the country’s best burn programs. Read on to see how far we’ve come.

Training and Equipment

We’ve come a long way since we started out, and we’ve learned a lot. Our rangers undergo at least 40 hours of training, pass a physical exam known as the pack test, and tag along for three practice burns before they can participate in a prescribed fire.

As for our equipment, we make sure every ranger is outfitted with the proper protective gear to be as safe as possible. Other equipment, such as fire engines and specialized vehicles, allows staff to respond quickly as the fire moves across the landscape. It is our top priority to make sure not only that we are keeping Florida’s environment safe, but also that our rangers, biologists, fire technicians and surrounding communities stay safe too.

Short-Term Benefits

A fresh burn can look harsh, but it only takes a few days for new life to emerge. Prescribed fires clear the way for grasses and other plants that need open spaces to flourish, while sturdy pines and other fire-resistant plants can withstand the flames. In no time at all, a burnt landscape will look better than ever - all thanks to prescribed fire.

Long-Term Benefits

If you’ve never seen a healthy pine forest, it can be hard to tell what’s right or wrong. But when fires are intentionally kept from igniting in areas that would naturally burn, they suffer for it. This is called fire suppression and it causes the forest to become too dense, crowding out  low-growing plants that would normally thrive. Prescribed fires sweep through the land, decluttering the forest and giving native plants room to grow.

The difference is night and day. Within a few years after fire is introduced back to the landscape, forests and other habitats can recover from decades of damage due to fire suppression.

Prescribed fire is one of the most important tools we have for helping restore and maintain Florida’s natural landscapes. We invite you to visit one of our many parks that burn each year and learn even more about this amazing process. Together, we can all spread awareness about the importance of prescribed fire.

This article was published in the Real Florida ℠ Connection, the Florida State Parks e-newsletter. Sign-up to get updates and stories from your state parks the first week of every month.