Prescribed Fire

Big Cypress National Preserve has issued a temporary closure to promote visitor safety during prescribed fire activity beginning Monday. Closure includes all areas and trails within the treatment perimeter including Concho Billie Trail North Entrance. Trails on the perimeter of the unit will remain open for use.

Big Cypress National Preserve has issued a temporary closure to promote visitor safety during prescribed fire activity beginning Tuesday, February 27, 2024. During the closure all recreational use including off-road vehicles, hiking, camping, hunting and commercial activities are prohibited in the designated areas.

Big Cypress National Preserve has issued a temporary closure to promote visitor safety during prescribed fire activity beginning Tuesday. During the closure all recreational use including off-road vehicles, hiking, camping, hunting and commercial activities are prohibited in the designated areas.

Big Cypress National Preserve has issued a temporary closure to promote visitor safety during prescribed fire activity beginning Monday. During the closure all recreational use including off-road vehicles, hiking, camping, hunting and commercial activities are prohibited in the designated areas.

Big Cypress National Preserve has issued a temporary closure to promote visitor safety during prescribed fire activity beginning Thursday. During the closure all recreational use including off-road vehicles, hiking, camping, hunting and commercial activities are prohibited in the designated areas.

South Florida Fire & Aviation will conduct a series of prescribed fire operations across Big Cypress National Preserve over the coming months, as weather conditions and other parameters permit. The planned treatment areas cover approximately 147,633 acres in 6 separate burn units, strategically placed throughout the park as part of a multi-year fuels treatment plan.

With no history of fire on a Naples Botanical Garden parcel for at least the past 40 years, a tremendous volume of natural debris, such as pine needles, considered fuel for fire, had accumulated. That fuel load created a fire risk — keep in mind that the Garden is sandwiched between residential developments.A prescribed fire Tuesday helped lessen that fuel load.

This time of year, when there is still some moisture in the backwoods, yet it hasn’t been raining every day, creates perfect conditions for professional firefighters to light a “controlled” or “prescribed” fire.