Cause - Project Environmental education and other facilities near Loop Road (FL)Park Status - No closures are anticipated as a result of these burns.Status as of 11/06/2009
Acreage - Total area for all 3 units is planned at 17,000. Of the 100 acres treated on November 4, approximately 20 acres were in the Loop Road unit and 80 were in the Ochoppee-Skillet/Lostmans WUI unit. Of the 200 acres treated on November 5, approximately 40 were in the Loop Road unit, with the remaining 160 in the Ochoppee-Skillet/Lostmans WUI unit.
Resources committed - Everglades National Park supported operations on Thursday, November 5, by providing a Type 6 engine and crew.
Estimated completion date is 3/1/2010.
Updates on fire
On Wednesday, November 4, firefighters secured Gobblers Knob and Mills private camps, treating approximately 100 acres in preparation for aerial ignition of the unit in the future.
Overview
Big Cypress National Preserve fire management staff began work on 3 prescribed fire units this week: Loop Road Wildland Urban Interface; Ochoppee-Skillet/Lostman Wildland Urban Interface; and Ochoppee-Skillet/Lostman Non-Wildland Urban Interface. Ignitions began Wednesday, November 4, 2009. All 3 units are scheduled for completion by February, 2010. As the park grows progressively drier over the winter, staff will continue to burn acres in each unit. Combined area for all 3 units totals 17,000 acres, but acres burned each day will be updated separately.
The last 24-hour activity
On Thursday, November 5, firefighters secured the Environmental Education Center, three private residences, Go Lightly Ranger Station and numerous utility poles scattered through the woods.
Vegetation affected
South Florida pinelands/saw palmetto
Air/smoke issues
The burn will not be conducted until transport winds are aligned to carry smoke away from park highways.
Benefits of the burn
Most of this fire-dependent habitat has not been burned in over 10 years. Our goal is to re-introduce fire in the pinelands to reduce understory/fuel build-up and the mid-story for Red Cockaded Woodpecker habitat improvement along with general habitat and ecosystem improvement. The park is also attempting to reduce the threat of wildfire to private property. Other ecological goals include controlling melaleuca in one area and reducing the brush component that has invaded the prairies due to lack of fire.
Values to be protected
Existing Red Cockaded Woodpecker colonies; the park education center facilities; back-country camps; and various private residences will all be protected by cutting adjacent brush and trees and by conducting hand ignition in those areas.