Progressive fire management in complex ecosystems

Prescribed fire burns through the River of Grass within Everglades National Park.

Michael Gue, South Florida Prescribed Fire Manager, NPS

South Florida’s national parks have some of the most complex and diverse ecosystems in the world. These unique ecosystems are home to multiple endangered species and are directly affected both positively and negatively by wildland fire. The land is rich with cultural resources from centuries of indigenous use. Numerous invasive species have infiltrated the parks and over 8 million people live directly adjacent to these public lands in surrounding communities.   

Firefighters take a break before continuing with ignition operations on a prescribed fire in South Florida

Michael Gue, South Florida Prescribed Fire Manager, NPS

Despite these complexities, South Florida parks fire management staff uses prescribed fire to serve ecological objectives. However, limited resources, environmental conditions, and competing goals result in fewer suitable burn days. To maximize the benefits of this narrow window, South Florida parks have partnered with the South Florida Natural Resources Center (SFNRC) to build a burn prioritization model as a decision-support tool for Everglades National Park (EVER).

Cleared area buildings for defensible space.

Michael Gue, South Florida Prescribed Fire Manager, NPS

The model includes criteria for plant conservation, endangered species protection, human life and safety, cultural, archeological, and recreational resources protection, and invasive plant control. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are used to integrate multiple factors affecting fire management into a single management model. The model provided a quantitative alternative to decision-making that is usually based on qualitative factors.

Ignition operations progress around a South Florida Community.

Michael Gue, South Florida Prescribed Fire Manager, NPS

The model supports diverse fire regimes across the wetland landscape, while satisfying the need to protect human life, cultural heritage, and infrastructure. Using this model will allow EVER to achieve conservation objectives through optimal or near-optimal fire return intervals. “This model is a step closer in our goal to perfect our fire management strategy here in South Florida. It allows us to quantify multiple competing objectives, break them down, prioritize them, and streamline them into a common mission,” said Dylan Scott, prescribed fire specialist at EVER. 

A firefighter ignites fuels around a residential property in Big Cypress National Preserve.

Michael Gue, South Florida Prescribed Fire Manager, NPS

The burn prioritization tools allow natural resource managers to plan how often prescribed fire is conducted on each unit and plan fire management with increased efficiency.