News Release

Prescription Burn in Bill's Hill

Map of the Oak Hill area.

NPS/Photo

News Release Date: February 2, 2022

Contact: Laura Henning, 321-229-3766

Oak Hill, FL --Canaveral National Seashore and the Atlantic zone Fire Management staff with assistance from Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge are looking to implement a prescribed burn in the Bill’s Hill area of the seashore, south of Oak Hill. The burn is part of Canaveral’s Fire Management Plan that reduces hazardous fuels in the vicinity of Oak Hill. This plan will be implemented to restore fire to the environment as part of a fire adaptive eco-system and maintain historic fire return intervals. 

Fire staff will first mechanically reduce fuel with machinery along the perimeter of some of the units. This work may begin as so as February 12th, 2022 and begin burning in early March. The community can expect to see and smell some smoke during the implementation. 

The Bill’s Hill Burn Plan was developed in accordance with Canaveral National Seashore’s Fire Management Plan to support the park’s structural protection plan while allowing fire to play its natural role in the environment. 

The burn will employ prescribed fire in order to reduce hazardous fuels in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), protect structures and cultural resources adjacent to the burn unit, and to promote a healthy fire frequency. The purpose is to reduce unnaturally high levels of fuel that could ignite from lightning strikes during the summer. The operation will also improve habitat for the federally protected Florida Scrub Jay and Eastern Indigo Snake. 

Public safety is paramount. Canaveral National Seashore staff and its partners are working together to ensure a safe and successful burn event. 

For up to date information on the prescribed burn monitor the park’s Facebook page @CanaveralNatlSeashore.