1. Fire in Florida’s Ecosystems A program of the Florida Division of Forestry Implemented by Pandion Systems For more information: www.fireinflorida.org Welcome to Presentation #4: Anatomy of a Prescribed Fire

2. Anatomy of a Prescribed Fire

3. Fire in Florida’s Ecosystems Today’s Lesson: Anatomy of a Prescribed Fire The Florida Division of Forestry Elements of a Prescribed Fire Prescribed Fire Tools and Techniques

4. The Florida Division of Forestry

5. Mission:... to protect and manage Florida's forest resources through a stewardship ethic to assure these resources will be available for future generations. The Florida Division of Forestry has four main functions: -Fire protection and management. -State lands management. -Private landowner assistance. -Community and landowner education.

6. The Florida Division of Forestry... manages land using prescribed fire.

7. Anatomy of a Prescribed Fire

8. What is a Prescribed Fire?

9. Who conducts a prescribed fire?

10. Planning a Prescribed Fire Map and photos of area Determine exact area to be burned What do you want to accomplish? What season should you burn in? Complete a prescribed burn plan form

11. When can a prescribed fire be conducted? A prescribed fire can only be done when the right environmental conditions exist.

12. Environmental Considerations for Prescribed Fire Relative Humidity Fuel Moisture Dispersion Index Wind Speed Drought Index Temperature Smoke Crew Training and Experience

13. Keetch-Byram Drought Index

14. Day of the Burn Match prescribed conditions Get permit from DOF District Office Notify agencies and adjacent landowners Perform smoke screening Have equipment and crew in place Brief crew on burn

15. Prescribed Fire Tools and Techniques

16. Prescribed Fire Techniques Burn objectives Fuel characteristics Current and forecasted weather Smoke management guidelines Crew and equipment available “Firing” techniques are determined by:

17. Anatomy of a Prescribed Fire

18. Types of Firing Techniques Back Fire – backs into the wind Head Fire – driven by the wind Flank Fire – sideways to the wind Spot Fire – point sources on a grid Ring Fire – perimeter and center

19. Prescribed Fire Tools & Safety Gear

20. After the Fire: Mop Up

21. Post-Fire Evaluation All burns are evaluated to determine if resource management objectives were met.

22. An overgrown area at the beginning of a prescribed fire

23. Immediately after the fire

24. Several months after the fire

25. What are some of the duties of the Florida Division of Forestry? What is a prescribed fire? What are some considerations that must be made prior to doing a prescribed fire? Discuss how a burn is conducted and what burn methods might be used. Anatomy of a Prescribed Fire: Summary Discussion