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Fire is a critical component of nearly every ecosystem in the southeastern United States. Central Florida is the lightning capital of the U.S., and historically our frequent thunderstorms ignited fires in the forest. As a result, many of the state\u2019s natural ecosystems would burn every 2-5 years. \u00a0During periods of extreme dry weather, especially during the transition from the dry season to the wet season in late spring, major natural wildfires occurred. These frequent fires kept the flammable material, or \u201cfuel loads\u201d, low decreasing the severity of the fires.\u00a0 However, due to decades of fire suppression fuel loads have built up to unnatural levels, increasing the potential for catastrophic wildfire.\u00a0 Because of the large number of residents living adjacent to UCF\u2019s forest, the risk of wildfires impacting these urban areas has increased. UCF\u2019s forests are managed in order to mitigate for potentially devastating wildfires; we do this by communicating with stakeholders, planning for hazard mitigation and actively managing lands with mechanical clearing and prescribed fire. One important aspect of protecting properties adjacent to our natural lands is creating a \u201cdefensible space\u201d of cleared area between our natural lands and our neighbors.<\/p>\n
Last month, UCF\u2019s Land Management Program received assistance from the Florida Forest Service\u2019s (FFS) Wildfire Hazard Mitigation grant program which helps landowners create and maintain areas of defensible space near residential communities. Mechanical treatment (mowing) is a land management technique that reduces heavy wild land fuel loads and mimics the disturbance of fire using heavy equipment, like a bulldozer or tractor. FFS recently completed mulching a 50-foot buffer of defensible space along UCF\u2019s property lines and the adjacent neighborhoods of University Estates, Regency Park and Ginger Creek. This defensible space increases accessibility to our forests for firefighters in the event of a wildfire. We also encourage our neighbors to adopt a \u201cfire wise\u201d mentality when living alongside the natural lands. Case studies have shown the most critical area of \u201cdefensible space\u201d occurs within 30 feet of a structure. Residents should maintain a lean, clean and green landscape within 30 feet of their home in order to ensure safety in the event of a wildfire.<\/p>\n
The most cost-effective and ecologically beneficial way to reduce dangerous fuel load buildup in Florida\u2019s natural upland ecosystems is through prescribed burning. Using \u201ccontrolled fire\u201d to reduce the risk of future wildfires may seem counter-intuitive, but Florida\u2019s ecosystems are built to burn under the right weather conditions. UCF\u2019s Prescribed Fire Team conducts controlled burns only under the appropriate weather conditions when it is practical and safe. Regular prescribed burns, along with the forest service\u2019s newly created defensible space mitigation, help to protect UCF and the surrounding community from the risk of wildfires. In addition, these prescribed burns have made our natural lands a showcase of impressive animal and plant biodiversity, managed effectively and safely with fire in the middle of Central Florida\u2019s expanding urban footprint. We are very proud of our Prescribed Fire Program and the benefits it brings to UCF and our neighbors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Fire is a critical component of nearly every ecosystem in the southeastern United States. Central Florida is the lightning capital of the U.S., and historically our frequent thunderstorms ignited fires in the forest. As a result, many of the state\u2019s natural ecosystems would burn every 2-5 years. \u00a0During periods of extreme dry weather, especially during […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":25389,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[5171],"class_list":["post-25388","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arboretum","tag-arboretum-at-ucf"],"yoast_head":"\n