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The Use of Prescribed Fire on Ranchland
January 2006
Lochrane A. Gary - Hardee County Extension, Director/Livestock Agent
With over 1200 people per day moving to Florida for permanent residency many newcomers become alarmed when they see fire in the woods or on a pasture. I have personally witnessed neighbors and well meaning citizens driving wildly up the lane and screaming, " There's a fire in your pasture." It's almost comical when this happens and they see a water wagon, a tractor and disc, fire lanes plowed as you calmly answer, " Yes, we intentionally set this fire. Didn't you see the note we left on your front door. We also left a message on your answering machine alerting you that we intended to burn today."
Forestry worker using a drip torch to start a controlled burn.
Many folks simply are unaware of the benefits of prescribed fire or a control burn. The purposes of prescribed burning in present day Florida are as follows:
- Ecological
- Wildlife
- Protection
- Forest Management
- Range Management
- Water Management
- Access
- Aesthetics
- Exotic Control
Without fire, fuel loads reach dangerous levels and desirable plant species are displaced. Properly conducted burns can increase the abundance of food plants, increase flowering and seed production, and attract an abundance of wildlife. Hazard fuel reduction is an important consideration. Hazard fuels are a risk to livestock, timber, people, and improved property. Prescribed burns which reduce fuels benefit the landowner, neighbors and the public.
Fire can benefit wildlife in many ways. As food plants and seed production increase, they attract wildlife. Bob white quail, turkey and deer are popular game species that respond readily to fire. Likewise, scrub jays, gopher tortoise, sandhill cranes and caracara benefit when a consistent long range program is established.
People often take for granted the benefits of prescribed and naturally occurring fire. Areas that have been recently burned can protect livestock, people, and property from devastating wild fires. In many cases these recently burned areas will act as effective fire breaks and the fire will simply go out. Even in cases where the fire continues to burn the intensity is reduced and the fire can be readily suppressed.
Forest managers have relied on fire as a land management tool. In some cases, fire is used on a regular basis to reduce fuel loads and control hardwoods. On other areas fire may be used to burn logging slash, for site preparation, and to promote natural regeneration. Fire can also be used to maintain a healthy forest and to control insects or diseases such as "brown spot" in pines.
I realize I am preaching to the choir. Today's ranchers and their great-grandfathers have been burning the woods for years but not everyone who lives in this beautiful state recognizes why we do it. Please consider patiently explaining the benefits of prescribed fire to residents who ask so that we may continue to utilize the privilege.