Prescribed Burns

Having grown up with Smokey Bear's "Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires" campaign, it seems strange that we now burn the forests on purpose, though I do understand the ecology and logic behind the choice. Since winds, humidity and weather are favorable this week, the Gulf Islands National Seashore is burning about 260 acres of area loaded with debris from recent hurricanes.



Fires are extensively planned for months. Teams of fire fighting and management experts have descended on the park to monitor the event.



Fire areas are outlined and surveyed for suitability before the first fire is ignited. Public safety is a primary concern for all involved. The sandy path here is actually a hiking trail, but it serves as a fire break as well.



The smoke generated can be pretty extensive!



Some of the fire plots this week were ignited using a helicopter, dropping fire into the forest.



These fires are necessary as the local habitat is a fire maintained ecosystem. Fires occur naturally here, and help maintain healthy long leaf and live oak forests. The planned fires, and even natural fires, occur often enough that they don't generate enough heat to kill mature trees, but they do clear out the underbrush and dead and down trees. Having these prescribed burns prevent larger, more damaging fires that can occur during prolonged droughts here in the Florida panhandle.



I'm not on the team, but I really don't mind. All that smoke inhalation doesn't sound like a lot of fun!