Life on the Edge: Firewise Florida

Life on the Edge: Firewise Florida

In previous articles we've discussed the reasons prescribed fire is beneficial to Florida’s natural landscape.

Whether you’re new to the state or born and raised in Hillsborough County, at some point you’re bound to come across a prescribed burn led by a Florida Certified Prescribed Fire Manager. Past articles describe the safety measures Fire Managers employ to keep the public and staff safe while planning and directing prescribed burns.

If you’re lucky enough to live near one of Hillsborough County’s Nature Preserves, it’s important to become familiar with the use of prescribed fire. Without it, those beautiful views and healthy ecosystems will steadily decline over time. The Environmental Lands Management Acquisition and Protection Program was created to manage and protect these lands for future generations. Our 68,000 acres offer more than fantastic recreation opportunities and picturesque landscapes. Ecosystem services provided by the nature preserves in Hillsborough County are valued at almost $100,000,000. From flood protection, to air and water quality regulation, these lands provide a significant return on our investment.

Should you be concerned if you see a Prescribed burn near your home?

Caring for our Nature Preserves is a community effort. We want you, as a homeowner, to feel safe and be informed while enjoying the benefits that living near a Preserve provides. Neighboring a natural area most likely means you will, at some point, encounter a prescribed burn. First thing's first: if you notice smoke, look for the following:

    1. Staff in yellow uniforms in UTVs, trucks, or on foot

    2. Diamond-shaped "Prescribed burn ahead" signs on the side of the road

    3. Vehicles operated by Hillsborough County staff close to the fire source

If you see any of this activity, feel free to reach out to the Bell Creek office at (813) 672-7876 if you have any questions or concerns. Prior to conducting a burn, Fire Managers go through a lengthy process of planning for safety. The Florida Forest Service approves planned prescribed burns based on several conditions before any Hillsborough County staff are deployed to the site. In addition to extensive training, each crew member has a radio to stay in communication for the duration of the operation. Our highest priority is safety - for both our crew and surrounding community. 

If you do notice our staff conducting a prescribed burn, keep in mind that appropriate application of fire to these ecosystems is absolutely necessary for both the land's health and safety of your home. Florida experiences the second-highest number of wildfires in the United States. Since lightning strikes are inevitable, reducing the amount of fuels near your home is just as beneficial to you as it is to the landscape. Active prescribed burn programs like ours are crucial step toward preventing lighting-induced fires from becoming destructive. Some smoke and ash are to be expected, but the good far outweighs the bad.

How can you be a good neighbor to our Nature Preserves? 

Each state has its own brand of weather events to take into consideration - Central Florida is blessed with both hurricane season and the highest number of lightning strikes in the U.S. per capita. While the weather is out of our control, we can all make a concentrated effort to responsibly prepare the spaces we inhabit to the best of our ability. As Florida's population continues to grow, natural areas are increasingly finding themselves with new neighbors (like the one pictured here). These areas between natural lands and urban spaces is called the Wildland/Urban Interface. Living in these areas means you and your neighbors can take action to mange these spaces and mitigate the risk of property damage from wildfires by creating defensible spaces. Defensible spaces create a safety barrier around the home that significantly lowers the probability of property damage if a lighting-induced fire event were to occur. So how do we go about creating a defensible space?

For one, talk to your neighbors! If you live in a community with little space between properties, creating a continuous defensible space will exponentially increase the results of your efforts. Ask your Homeowner's Association if they would be interested in Firewise USA, a national recognition program that enlists experts to help you plan ahead and keeps communities accountable for their continued efforts. You do not need to be involved in a HOA to become a Firewise USA. 

To create a defensible space, you have several options. Implementing just one is a great step in the right direction. Maintain your fence line; this means regular mowing, ensuring any vining plants in your back yard are under control, and keeping flammable items secured and away from the Preserve boundary. Invasive plants such as cogongrass reproduce quickly and respond rapidly to ignition. Ensure that all trees in your yard, whether native or exotic, are trimmed back regularly and debris is removed promptly. Oak trees are the most frequent culprits when it comes to limbs and spanish moss hanging over fire lanes. The more fuel available, the higher your risk becomes. Of course, there's no need to completely remove all vegetation from your yard - just make sure you're not inviting any additional risk with your landscaping! The graphic above is an example of adequate spacing that will lower the chances of wildfire spread on your property. We can assume that in the absence of wind, the matches on the bottom row will most likely not ignite as readily as the matches on the top row. In windy conditions, ideally the fuels would be even further apart. If you've ever started a camp fire, you know how easily light and dry fuels tend to combust. Ensuring that long grasses, leaf litter, and debris are maintained is a simple first step toward protecting your home.

Land managers create fire breaks, or fire lanes, next to fence lines. These serve the dual purpose of allowing our vehicles to easily navigate the outer perimeter of burn units while creating a defensible space of our own to keep fire from crossing over the Wildland/Urban Interface. By eliminating fuels around your home, you can creating your own "break" in a fire's potential path.

Firewise plants can also help to mitigate risk and break the line of continuous fuels. Two of our previous articles can help you get started: Shady Invaders and Common Garden Invaders. The University of Florida IFAS is another great source for Firewise landscaping resources. 

Learn more about defensible spaces from the Florida Forest Service and the National Fire Protection Association. You can find a helpful checklist from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services here.

Our Outreach Team is here to answer any questions you may have about Hillsborough County's Prescribed Fire program! Please reach out to the Bell Creek office at (813) 672-7876 and ask for our team.