Gulf Islands National Seashore has been in the crosshairs of numerous tropical storms and hurricanes over the last few years. These storms have dramatically increased hazardous fuel loads in the Naval Live Oaks portion of the Seashore. Naval Live Oaks is a natural area set aside to preserve large stands of live oaks which were once invaluable in naval ship construction. Today, urban interface and busy highways abut and bisect the natural area. The extensive fuel loading immediately adjacent to urban interface required managers to plan and implement fuels treatment efforts in this unique habitat.
Recently, National Park Service firefighters from throughout the Southeast Region converged upon Naval Live Oaks to implement a hazard fuel reduction prescribed burn. Firefighters and other fire resources from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cumberland Gap National Historic Park, Kings Mountain National Military Park, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Natchez Trace Parkway, Eglin Air Force Base and private contractors all came together to assist Gulf Islands National Seashore staff.
The first of five planned fuel reduction burns was implemented on January 25, 2007 when 90 acres of storm ravaged oak and long leaf pine were treated immediately adjacent to the neighborhood of Villa Venyce and State Highway 98. Managers plan to burn twenty percent of Naval Live Oaks in 2007, or 250 of the approximately 1400 acre preserve.
Contact: David Loveland, Great Smoky Mountains Fire Use Module
Phone: (865) 436-1711
* This story supports the National Fire Plan |
