Wildfire

Wildfire is a part of Florida’s natural history and has helped shape its unique ecology. Historically, wildfire caused by lighting would spread in all directions with no one around to put it out. Over thousands of years our plants and animals have adapted to this natural cycle. Fire was the original land manager in Florida. Today Florida ecosystems like pine flatwoods are not only adapted to fire, but they depend on fire to survive and flourish. In recent history as we began to develop the land, fire was suppressed to protect homes and people. Fire suppression allows plants not adapted to fire, like oak trees, to grow and eventually shade out the pine flatwoods habitat. There have been 2 wildfires in this area in recent history. One in March of 2014 that burned 12 acres and the other was in July of 2018 burning 2.5 acres.