Gonna be fire down south...

Coastal Prairie Prescribed Fire to be conducted in Everglades National Park

Homestead, FL: Everglades Fire Management plans to conduct a prescribed fire to eradicate invasive, non-native plants in the coastal prairies region of Everglades National Park. Approximately 10,000 acres will be burned in the coastal prairies, a remote, roadless area of the Park, approximately 10 miles northwest of the Flamingo Visitor Use Area.

Prescribed fire is one of the most cost effective restoration tools available to Everglades' managers. The coastal prairies prescribed fire is planned to target the treatment of Lygodium microphyllum, an exotic and invasive plant that threatens to outcompete native plants and change water flow in the coastal prairies of Everglades National Park.

According to Everglades Prescribed Fire Specialist, Jennifer Adams, “Fire is an important tool for resource management in Everglades National Park. We have found that treating Lygodium with prescribed fire is a cost effect technique used to help restore the natural ecosystem in the coastal prairies”.

Wet summer conditions are favorable for safe and effective burning conditions. All areas of Everglades National Park will remain open to visitors during the prescribed fire. For visitor safety, people who are not part of the prescribed fire operation, including boaters, should avoid areas of active fire. Smoke may be visible in the park and along Main Park Road.

What: Everglades National Park conducts a 10,000 acre prescribed fire

When: Wednesday, August 27th and Thursday, August 28^th (weather dependent)

Where: Coastal Prairies, 10 miles northwest of Flamingo in Everglades National Park

For more information, contact Fire Information Officer Katie Corrigan, 305-242-7053. Follow Fire Updates on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/EvergladesNationalPark

Follow Fire Updates on Twitter, https://twitter.com/EvergladesNPS

-NPS-

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