Fire
Wildfire
The Florida Forest Service provides useful updates on wildfire danger across the state. Check the Florida Forest Service Wildland Fire page for the latest updates.
Additional Resources
Regional Website
University of Florida IFAS Extension Publications
- Landscaping in Florida with Fire in Mind
- Developing Land In Florida With Fire In Mind
- Forest Management in the Interface: Reducing Fire Risk
Prescribed Fire
Prescribed fire is controlled application of fire to vegetative fuels, under specified environmental conditions and following appropriate precautionary measures, to achieve specific objectives, including:
- Hazard reduction
- Control of undesirable species
- Wildlife habitat improvement
- Improved access and visibility
- Disease control
- Enhancement of appearance and aesthetics
- Manipulation of depth, chemistry and decomposition of the site
In areas of light brush you may need only burn off the area in late summer or early fall before planting. In other areas of more dense conditions, fire may be used in conjunction with other chemical or mechanical methods.
Although fire is a very effective and inexpensive land management tool, it can be disastrous under adverse conditions. Seek the assistance of a professional if you are not confident about your knowledge of prescribed fire. See our Prescribed Burning Regulations page for more information.
Fire is very useful to forest managers in many ways and must be applied at the time of year when there is a good chance of reaching the given objectives. The distinction between managed fire and wildfire must be made clear to the public so that land management policy will support the safety, health, and economic viability of Florida's public and private forests.
Prescribed Burn Associations
There is currently an effort to initiate landowner-led Prescribed Burn Associations (PBA) in Florida. A PBA is formed and run by landowners who help conduct prescribed burns on each other's land. Members can gain experience and have access to equipment, training, and help from other landowners who are more experienced burners while saving money. More about PBAs in this Southern Fire Exchange fact sheet: The Value of Forming a Prescribed Burn Association
Additional Resources
Regional Websites
- Southern Fire Exchange
- Prescribed Fire Councils of Florida
- North Florida Prescribed Burn Association
- Northwest Florida Prescribed Burn Association
University of Florida Extension Service Publications
- Benefits of Prescribed Fire
- Resources for Prescribed Fire on Private Lands in Florida
- Where there's Fire, there's Smoke: Air Quality and Prescribed Burning in Florida
- Management Considerations for Prescribed Fires in Riparian Zones of Florida
- Prescribed Fire as a Tool for Controlling Tick Populations
- What if Prescribed Fire is not an Option: An Overview of Alternative Vegetation Management Options
- Hurricane and Tropical Storm Impacts on Prescribed Fire and Wildfire Management
State & Federal Agencies
- Florida Forest Service Burn Authorizations
(you must contact your District Office before you burn for an authorization) - A Guide For Prescribed Fire in Southern Forests
Forest Management
- Forest Management Overview
- Fire
- Florida Silviculture BMPs
- Forest Certification Programs
- Forest Inventory
- Forest Management Plan
- Other Forest Values
- Technical & Cost-share Assistance
- Timber Management
- Uneven-aged Management
- Vegetation Management (Southern Regional Extension Forestry link)
- Wildland-Urban Interface