Researchers studying the federally-listed endangered Cape Sable Seaside Sparrows (CSSS) spend up to a week at a time in the backcountry of Everglades National Park. Due to the extreme conditions in the backcountry- severe thunderstorms and standing water at times to name a few, two shelters on platforms have been erected for those field observers to spend their nights. Simply named East Camp and West Camp, these shelters are accessible only by helicopter and located in the middle of the elements. Firefighters flew into these camps in early April to put a fire break in the grasses surrounding the shelters.
The West Camp Fire was ignited by lightning on the evening of June 22, 2008. Severe weather prevented the firefighting crew from getting to the fire until the next morning, as fire access was also only by helicopter. This fire, burning mainly in dry marsh grasses with some hardwood hammocks interspersed, was wind-driven and grew to 2,500 acres by the time the crew arrived on the second day. The fire threatened the shelter that was its namesake and burned completely around it that first night. West Camp was left undamaged because the fuel break significantly decreased the fire intensity. No one was occupying the shelter at the time of the fire.
Contact: Rick Anderson, Fire Management Officer
Phone: (305) 242-7853
*This story supports the National Fire Plan |
