News Release

Everglades National Park to Conduct Prescribed Burn This Week

Prescribed fire in Everglades National Park. 

NPS Photo

News Release Date: January 16, 2018

Contact: General Park Information, 305-242-7700

Contact: Media Queries, 305-242-7055

HOMESTEAD, Fla. - Depending on the weather conditions, Everglades National Park will conduct a prescribed burn in the North East District of the park sometime between January 16-19, 2018. The general location of the EE 2 and EE 3 Prescribed Burn is in the north east portion of Everglades National Park, east of Shark Valley, south of US 41 and north of Chekika. The planned burn area is about 10,000 acres in size.

Smoke and/or fire may be visible from US 41 and Shark Valley. Everglades National Park is coordinating with Miccosukee PD and Florida Highway Patrol. Temporary lane closures of US 41 may occur depending on smoke impacts on the road. Airboat tours in the immediate vicinity of the fire will be suspended.  

Visitors are advised to watch out for wildlife, fire personnel, and vehicles along roadways. Please drive cautiously, reduce your speed and turn on your headlights if you encounter smoke while driving. To ensure your safe visit, people who are not part of the prescribed fire operation should avoid areas of active fire. Some sections of the park or roadways may be temporarily restricted for your safety.

Prescribed burns are an important part of resource management at Everglades National Park. The purposes of this prescribed burn include reducing hazardous fuel adjacent to the highway to protect public and park values and the maintenance of fire adapted ecosystems. These prescribed burns help to restore and maintain the fire adapted wetland/prairie ecosystem, and to benefit the natural quality of wilderness character.

Information on the fire management program at the park can be found on the park website at www.nps.gov/ever/learn/management/prescribedfire.htm

Any questions on this burn can be routed to Everglades National Park at 305-242-7055.

Photo: Prescribed fire in Everglades National Park. NPS Photo

WHAT: Everglades National Park conducts 10,000 acre prescribed burn. 

WHEN: Depending on the weather, Everglades National Park will conduct Prescribed Burn sometime between January 16-19, 2018. 

For more information about what you can see and enjoy at Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks, please visit www.nps.gov/ever and www.nps.gov/drto respectively.   

-NPS-