PRESCRIBED FIRE - A LAND MANAGEMENT TOOL
Fire is a natural phenomenon. Most natural fires occur from lightning strikes. Native Americans and early settlers were some of the first to recognize fire as a beneficial tool and they adapted it to achieve specific objectives such as reduction of heavy underbrush, opening up areas to promote better grazing which provided for improved hunting. New grasses could support livestock and homes could be constructed in open areas created through the use of fire.
Prescribed fire is a very important and valuable land management tool. It is one of the most versatile and cost effective tools land managers use. A prescribed burn is an intentional fire set under carefully controlled conditions to achieve certain land management objectives. These conditions involve specific requirements for time of year, temperature, humidity, wind direction, wind speed, and moisture content of the vegetation to be burned. Within Florida, approximately two million acres are treated with prescribed fire each year. Prescribed fire is used to reduce hazardous fuel buildups and provides increased protection for people, their homes and the forest against devastating wildfires.
For more information on how you can take action to protect your home/community from wildfires go to www.fl-dof.com/wildfire [External Link].
Other uses of prescribed fire include disease control in young pines, improving habitat for wildlife, range management, preservation of endangered plant and animal species, and the maintenance of fire dependent ecosystems. During the year, Palm Beach County's Parks and Recreation Department's Natural Resource Section conducts several prescribed fires within county park property to achieve specific objectives, such as those listed above.
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