PRESCRIBED FIRE BASICS PAT DEREN, FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE

Fire in Florida: Historical Perspective Lightning-caused fires mainly summer months most area probably burned in May-June Human-ignited fires native Americans used for variety of reasons widely applied in early 1900s - mainly winter fire exclusion policy in last 70 years

# wildfires/year # acres burned/year Q. Why this peak? A. The spring drought

Florida Ecosystems Fire Maintained Fire Influenced Flatwoods High pine / Sandhill Scrub Sawgrass prairies Cypress swamps Other grasslands Freshwater marshes Salt marshes Fire Influenced Upland hardwoods Dunes Subtropical forests Mangroves

Grassland or wet prairie Fire interval 1-6 years

If Fire is Absent? Vegetation Soils tree density & cover increase composition shifts to shade tolerant species growth rates & tree vigor decline herbaceous forage and shrubs decline Soils organic matter accumulates nutrient cycles slow

If Fire is Absent? Animals late successional species replace seral species populations of many species decline endemic “pest” insects & diseases increase Ecosystem processes tend to simplify in structure & function stream flow & on-site water balance decrease potential for large fires increase

Fire Effects on Plant Communities Competition for moisture, nutrients & light are temporarily reduced Certain species may be selectively eliminated Species composition and successional stages are altered Susceptibility to blowdown may be altered

Effects on Animals: General Principles Many Florida species have evolved in a fire environment Mortality levels are generally low Effects on cover and food sources are substantial but vary across the landscape Fire intensities may be: reduced by grazing increased by insect damage

Firing Techniques Backing fire Head fire Flanking fire Spot fire Ring fire

Always do a test fire!

All techniques begin with a secure baseline

BOATING

SMOKE MANAGEMENT DEFINED A plan of action where prescribed burning is conducted in such a way that smoke produced is dispersed without causing a health or safety hazard. WE ARE TRYING TO MIINIMIZE OR MANAGE THE EFFECT SMOKE HAS ON THE PULIC HOW CAN YOU ACHIEVE THIS GOAL?? MINIMIZE DIRECT LEAD IN 4 NEXT SLIDE TO MANAGE SMOKE WE NEED TO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT: ITS MAKEUP FACTORS AFFECTING IT WAY TO MINIMIZE IT START WITH HOW SMOKE IS PRODUCED

What is Smoke?? Byproduct of the combustion process Major Products of Combustion: Water Vapor Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Major Pollutants of Combustion: Carbon Monoxide (CO) Particulate matter** TO MANAGE SOMETHING IT HELPS TO KNOW WHAT IT IS----SO WHAT IS SMOKE?? AS ORGANIC MATERIAL BURNS THE CHEMICAL PROCESS CREATES SEVERAL PRODUCTS MOISTURE IS HEATED INTO WATER VAPOR (WHITE SMOKE) THE ORGANIC MATTER IS BROKEN DOWN INTO GASSES LIKE CO2 POLLUTANTS ARE ALSO PRODUCED-VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW THESE CAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR HARM TO PEOPLE CO IS A POISON GAS BUT IS QUICKLY DIFFUSED PARTICULATES ARE CONCERN #1---VISIBLE, MIXES W/WATER VAPOR- CARRY A LONG WAY PEOPLE SEE IT AND PANIC, DON’T LIKE IT ON THEIR CAR OR POOL, MAKES BREATHING HARD MEASURED IN PLACES TO PROTECT AIR QUALITY STORY OF SS CALLER, MAYO BLDG

SMOKE SCREENING PROCESS Determine Fuels Plot the Smoke Plume Identify SSA’s Identify Critical SSA’s Minimize Risks