Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson and the Florida Forest Service are today recognizing January 28 through February 3, 2024, as the state’s annual Prescribed Fire Awareness Week, highlighting the importance and benefits of prescribed fire burning in Florida’s lands and forests.
“Prescribed fire is the best tool we have to significantly reduce the chances of catastrophic wildfires and maintain the health of our forests,” said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “By clearing the buildup of underbrush that fuels wildfires, prescribed burns help protect both lives and resources, ensuring that our forests, wildlife, and ecosystems are preserved for future generations.”
In 2023, the Florida Forest Service administered the largest and most active prescribed fire program in the nation, issuing 85,000 open burn authorizations for public and private land managers to treat more than 2.2 million acres with prescribed fire. Of these acres burned, more than 157,000 were on state forest lands. Nearly half of Florida is made up of forests, one of the state’s top agricultural commodities. Managing these forests is essential to powering Florida’s economy, sustaining the ecosystem, and supporting the state’s infrastructure. Florida’s landscape is a fire-adapted ecosystem, depending on recurring fire to renew the forest and habitats that support native plants and animals.
“Florida is a leader in the use of prescribed fire. With our long-term and continued approach, we can safely manage the state’s fire-dependent and fire-prone landscapes,” said Florida Forest Service Director Rick Dolan. “This week is an important reminder of all that Florida’s foresters and wildland firefighters do to keep us safe.”
Prescribed fire allows land managers across the state to choose the conditions and areas that need to be cleared. The busy season for prescribed fires is typically between December and March, which features cool days and more predictable winds.
The Florida Forest Service, in partnership with Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy, maintains a website focused on prescribed fires in Florida. To learn more, or to view prescribed fires planned in your community today, visit: WhyPrescribedFire.org.
The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages more than 1 million acres of state forests and provides forest management assistance on more than 17 million acres of private and community forests. The Florida Forest Service is also responsible for protecting homes, forestland, and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire on more than 26 million acres.
For more information about Commissioner Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FDACS.gov.
