Message from the Director
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October 2014 ISSUE 01 FLForestryOFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE News This Issue Message from the Director P.01 Prescribed Burning in Florida P.02 The Florida Forest Service Wildfire Risk Reduction P.04 is a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Tree Hazard Prevention P.06 Consumer Services and consists Florida State Forests P.07 of more than 1,250 dedicated Friends of FL State Forests P.09 employees who manage more than 1 million acres of public for- estland while protecting 26 million acres of homes, forestland and Message from the Director: natural resources from the devas- The Florida Forest Service states while continuing to provide for the safety tating effects of wildfire is proud to present the first of Florida’s citizens. This year, the Florida Forest issue of FLForestry News, Service deployed 256 individuals to assist wildfire In addition to managing more a resource for the public suppression efforts in the Western United States. than 1 million acres of State to find helpful information The experiences that our firefighters gain out West Forests for multiple public uses about forestry and wild- will build upon their first-class training and experi- including timber, recreation and Jim Karels, State Forester wildlife habitat, the Florida Forest fire issues in Florida. The ence fighting wildfires here in Florida. Service also provides services to Florida Forest Service has many resources landowners throughout the state, available to the public for education, safety, for- Summer rains have also set Florida up for what including technical information est and land management, recreation and more. should be another outstanding prescribed burn sea- and grant program administration. This newsletter will put new and useful infor- son for state forest lands and private lands alike. mation in the hands of the public each quarter. We are committed to continue using this excellent The Florida Forest Service’s for- land management tool to its greatest potential. estry programs are implemented The Florida Forest Service has been working by its field operations staff within 15 field units across the state. hard to become the best organization it can be We look forward to sharing updates and useful Field personnel and equipment for Florida’s citizens. This summer, we were once information with you each quarter. Please feel free provide a more responsive and again fortunate with favorable weather conditions to visit our website at FloridaForestService.com comprehensive approach to land that kept wildfires at bay and gave the Florida or contact a local field unit office for more informa- management and wildfire control Forest Service continued opportunity for growth. tion about the many excellent programs we have statewide. available to the public. Favorable conditions in the Southeast allowed us to lend wildfire suppression support to Western Prescribed Fire Helps Grow Bobwhite Quail Banner Year Population for Prescribed Fire in Florida The Florida Forest Service has teamed up with Florida’s primary More than 2.5 Million Acres land management agencies to Across Florida Underwent enhance, promote and conserve quality habitat for northern bobwhite Prescribed Burns Last Year quail and other upland birds and By Chelsea Ealum, animals on more than 11,000 acres Communications & PR Coordinator of the Blackwater River State Forest. This venture is part of the Upland The Florida Forest Service over- areas. Other benefits from pre- in part, to its unique Certified Ecosystem Restoration Project sees one of the most active scribed fires include: Prescribed Burn Manager pro- (UERP), a multi-agency cooperative prescribed fire programs in the • Disease control in young gram. This program trains and effort to increase populations of country. Prescribed fire is used pines. certifies individuals as Certified northern bobwhite quail and other to reduce the risk of wildfires and • Habitat improvement for Prescribed Burn Managers. declining fire-dependent wildlife keep Florida’s natural habitats wildlife. Certified Prescribed Burn man- species on public lands throughout healthy and growing. • Range management. agers receive certain benefits Florida. • Preservation of endangered such as liability protection under During the past year, the Florida plant and animal species. Florida Statutes 590.125, extra time Like many animal and plant species Forest Service reports that more to burn and the ability to submit in Florida, northern bobwhite quail than 2.5 million acres across The Florida Forest Service reg- online open burn requests. Anyone rely on frequent, low-grade fires for Florida were treated with pre- ularly manages its more than who uses prescribed fire or con- population and habitat preservation. scribed fire, one of the highest 1 million acres of ducts controlled Prescribed fire is one of the most numbers ever reported by any state forest lands Prescribed fire is a burns on a regu- cost-effective and efficient tools state in the country. More than with prescribed fire safe way to apply lar basis should 214,000 of these acres were on while also conduct- consider enroll- available for managing quail habitat. a natural process, Prescribed fires benefit bobwhite state forest land. ing or authorizing ing in this useful ensure ecosystem quail habitat by enhancing nest prescribed burns and educational cover and brood range, improving “Prescribed fire in Florida is a on other public and health and reduce program. (See insect and seed foraging conditions, very important land management private lands. wildfire risk. “How to Become helping control hardwood inva- tool,” said State Forester Jim a Certified Burn sion into the forest midstory, and Karels. “It is a safe way to apply “Last year, we were fortunate to Manager” on pg 3) decreasing the probability of destruc- a natural process, ensure eco- experience many days with con- tive wildfire. system health, and reduce wild- ditions favorable for prescribed To learn more about the Florida fire risk for people, homes and fire,” Karels said. “Conditions Forest Service’s prescribed fire Resource managers have used a natural resources.” can change quickly and dras- programs, visit our Prescribed combination of prescribed fire, tim- tically in Florida, so it is our Fire web page at http:// ber harvests and hardwood reduc- Prescribed fire is used to reduce responsibility to take advantage www.freshfromflorida.com/ tion to improve habitat conditions the buildup of flammable plant of favorable conditions whenever Divisions-Offices/Florida- and encourage bobwhite population materials that fuel and intensify they are present.” Forest-Service/Wildfire/ growth on the Blackwater River dangerous wildfires. Reducing Prescribed-Fire. State Forest. Bobwhite coveys, or hazardous buildup results in Florida’s prescribed burning pro- small flocks, have been counted increased safety for surrounding gram is extremely active due, (Continued on pg. 10) FloridaForestService.com 2 How to Become a Certified Burn Manager The first step toward becoming a Certified Prescribed Burn Manager is to take the Florida Certified Prescribed Burn Manager Training Course. This course is offered in two formats: distance learning and New Changes to Open Burning Laws & Rules classroom. By Jim Brenner, Fire Management Administrator The distance learning format There have been several signif- Forestry). F.S. 590 has always waste. The authority to delegate is a web-based self study icant changes to the open burn- given the Florida Forest Service to any municipality (city or coun- course intended for experienced ing laws and rules over the past the authority to write rules to ty) was part of the 2013 revision. burners who wish to polish two years. These changes were manage the prevention, detec- their skills and receive certifi- brought about when the Florida tion and suppression of wildfires. 5. 590.125: A definition was cation from the Florida Forest Forest Service and the Florida However, the statute change in added to the law for Gross Service. The classroom format Attorney General reviewed the 2013 specifies that the Florida Negligence, meaning conduct is a three-day course open to existing regulations and found Forest Service would authorize so reckless or wanting in care individuals of all experience that the language needed to open burning for Agriculture, that it constitutes a conscious levels. Classroom courses will be updated. The following is Silviculture and Land Clearing disregard or indifference to be offered at various times and a review of the most signifi- in Florida. life, safety or rights of persons locations across the state. cant changes made to the stat- exposed to such conduct. utes that affect open burning in 3. F.S. 590.02(3) was amended All students must either have Florida: to make it clear that sovereign 6. 590.125: A definition for smol- or obtain direct (not standby) immunity applies to all planning dering was added, meaning the experience conducting at least 1. F.S. 570.07(9)28 was amend- activities used by the Florida “continued consumption of fuels, three acreage burns before ed to include pile burning as it Forest Service when monitoring, which may emit flames and receiving initial certification. is defined in F.S. 590.125(1). or suppressing an outdoor fire smoke, after a fire is contained”. Prior to this, certain types of (whether wildfire or prescribed For landowners that frequently land clearing burns were the fire). 7. 590.125(2): In the non-certi- burn piles, the Florida Forest legislative responsibility of the fied section, the person named Service also offers a Certified Department of Environmental 4. 590.02(10) authorizes the responsible or a designee must Pile Burner program. Protection (DEP). The change Florida Forest Service to dele- be present at the burn site until gave responsibility to the Florida gate its authority pertaining to the burn is completed. Further information and appli- Forest Service. the open burning of land clear- cation forms can be found at ing debris (or the authority del- (Continued on pg 10) FloridaForestService.com or 2.