Building Bridges: South Florida communities benefit from prescribed fire

In a small roadside restaurant near Big Cypress National Preserve, the waitress casually commented, “You guys sure have been busy out there this year. It’s a good thing too, we’ve really needed it.”

Exhausted, with the dirt still covering their faces, and smoke permeating the air, it was evident, despite the fire blazing just to the rear of the restaurant, there was no fear. The surrounding community knew the importance of and purpose of prescribed fire. The abundance of calm and collected firefighters, a media presence emphasizing the benefits of fire on National Park Service (NPS) land, and countless hours of education—presenting at schools, events, and programs within the South Florida Parks and Preserve - only emphasized that this organization, in this fire-dependent ecosystem, was doing something right.

With over two million acres across the South Florida National Parks and Preserve, the majority of which is fire adapted or dependent, fire management is not something new. Yet, it has taken years of effort, planning, and education, and some changes in policy, to manage efficiently and effectively. This includes applying prescribed fire at a landscape level on a consistent basis.

In 2024, firefighters burned 233,954 acres across Big Cypress National Preserve and Everglades National Park. This was aided with nearly $5 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) - approximately $1.9 million for Everglades National Park and $2.7 million for Big Cypress National Preserve. Prescribed fires aim to protect NPS resources, infrastructure, and surrounding communities from risk of devastating wildfires.

These public-facing burns sparked an immense amount of communication. This provided opportunities to highlight the role fire plays in the ecosystem and how the process works. As operations became imminent, the public was well-informed. Staff distributed press releases and maps. This enabled in-holders and visitors the opportunity to plan. Fire information booths, media interviews, and fireline visits offered an up-close experience. Visitors could see firefighters executing their plans, mitigating risks, and adjusting to changes.

“I know what you do, and why you do it. I guess I am just out here to see how it is actually completed,” said Big Cypress National Preserve in-holder Hallery Matson. She watched firefighters burn around her property. “I’ve seen the work you guys have done over the years, and you do it well. I just wanted to witness it firsthand” she added. As fire management transitions from reactive to proactive, actions speak louder than words. The results speak for themselves.