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Prescribed Burning in Apalachicola National Forest Reduces Wildfire Threats, Promotes Healthy Forest

September 30, 2009 - Residents and passersby may see some smoke in the air beginning Oct. 1 when the U.S. Forest Service starts its prescribed burning season of approximately 100,000 acres in the Apalachicola National Forest.

The benefits of prescribed fires are twofold: prevent wildfires and promote a healthy forest for plants and animals to thrive.

"Prescribed fire plays an integral part in reducing fuels, improving all wildlife habitat, controlling competing vegetation, controlling disease and improving forage," said Lynne Howard, who directs the U.S. Forest Service's fire efforts for the National Forests in Florida.

Plants and animals native to the longleaf pine habitats in the Apalachicola National Forest depend on natural fire cycles, which are mimicked through the use of prescribed fires to balance habitat and food sources, Howard said.

Prescribed burning is also one of the most effective land management tools used in preventing the outbreak and spread of wildfires which are more intense and difficult to contain. "Prescribed fire reduces the fuel loading which reduces fire behavior, and ultimately the risk of catastrophic fires," she said.

While the risk of wildfire remains significant throughout Florida, the National Forests in Florida are at lower risk because of consistent prescribed burning efforts to reduce fuels.

The Apalachicola National Forest, spanning nearly 600,000 acres, has the largest prescribed fire program in the nation because of its sheer size and ability to burn year-round.

About one-third of the forest lands are burned on a two- to five-year rotation to stimulate growth of the longleaf pine and wiregrass community that is the dominant ecosystem on the Apalachicola National Forest.

At one time, this ecosystem dominated 70 million acres in the southeast, said U.S. Forest Service wildlife biologist Chuck Hess. Today less than 3 percent of this type of forest remains.

The longleaf ecosystem is one of the many fire dependent ecosystems in Florida. "Without fire, the longleaf pine system will slowly disappear," Hess said.

The U.S. Forest Service conducted approximately 95,000 acres of prescribed burns in the Apalachicola National Forest in fiscal year 2009.

Pre-planned prescribed burns are carefully analyzed and conducted under specific weather conditions. Specific calendar dates for burn activities are fluid because only when conditions are right can prescribed burns achieve desired results.

"Because prescribed fires depend on having the correct weather conditions, the decision to burn is made very close to the actual burn time," said Steve Parrish, U.S. Forest Service fire management officer. Fire managers study variables such as temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, how smoke will disperse and rainfall patterns.

"Prescribed burning is a tool with many applications and has a long and successful history in the southeast," said Howard.

To begin the season, approximately 12,000 acres of the northeast portion of the forest is scheduled for burning. The public can contact the Apalachicola National Forest Wakulla Ranger District Office at (850) 926-3561 if there are questions about the prescribed burning.

Notes: Because the prescribed fire in the Apalachicola National Forest is dependent on weather conditions, the decision to burn is made very close to the actual burn time. Great care is taken to minimize smoke and ash, but changing weather patterns can cause temporary inconveniences. Prescribed burn information will be available to the public on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NFinFlorida and blog at www.NFinFlorida.blogspot.com.