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In support of the National Fire Plan, federal
land managers in South Florida have been working towards implementation
of Fire Program Analysis (FPA). As of April 2005, partners
in the South Florida planning unit have signed a charter establishing
relationships and documenting objectives and responsibilities.
Landscape scale data have been acquired and evaluated, and
software testing continues as actual implementation deadlines
approach. The working relationships established between Fire
Planning Unit (FPU) team members have already had positive
effects in day-to-day fire operations. While the different
agencies and units have enjoyed both formal and informal working
relationships in the past, FPA has brought the associations
to a new level of cooperation. This cooperation was evident
recently when Everglades National Park initiated efforts to
conduct a hazard fuel reduction treatment adjacent to wildland
urban interface, endangered species habitat and sensitive
cultural sites.
In addition to Everglades National Park,
resources from Biscayne National Park (NP), Big Cypress National
Preserve (NP), Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, Florida
Panther National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), J. N. Ding Darling
National Wildlife Refuge and three “Call When Needed”
aircraft (CWN) participated in this successful fuels treatment
effort. This joint endeavor may be the first of many Fire
Planning Unit wide efforts. Two weeks after the burn in Everglades
National Park, FPU resources from Everglades NP, Big Cypress
NP, Fackahatchee Strand State Park, Florida Division of Forestry,
J. N. Ding Darling NWR, and Florida Panther NWR converged
upon Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge to assist with
hazard fuel reduction efforts there. Close working relationships,
cost effective sharing of resources, increased awareness of
regional fuels situations, and knowledge of local management
constraints will allow FPA to succeed nationwide as it is
succeeding in south Florida.
Contact: David Loveland, Prescribed
Fire Specialist
Phone: (305) 242-7851
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