back to weblog

Prescribed Fires

Prescribed burn planned for Tuesday, October 20th in the Northwest side of campus. The potential unit(s) to be burned are Unit 2, Unit 3 and Unit 4A (click here to view map).


Fire creates and maintains plant and animal habitats throughout the United States, and many ecosystems would not exist in the absence of fire. Fire creates change, which is biologically necessary to maintain healthy ecosystems. For example, prescribed burns help fire-dependent trees, such as long-leaf pines, drop their cones which open with intense fire. Without fire, these trees will not grow and reproduce. Fire also allows native grasses to grow by promoting seeding and reducing the density of overgrown vegetation (such as saw palmetto). These grasses provide food for many animals, and the resulting open spaces enable the threatened gopher tortoise to easily move through the habitat and build burrows, which they share with other species. Varying fire timing, frequency and intensity produces different resource responses that can return the habitat to its historical, healthy state.

In addition to using fire as a management tool, prescribed burns can also reduce heavy fuel loads, thus reducing the threat of wildfire. Wildfires occur in Florida's natural lands yearly, and while they are typically controlled quickly near residential areas, it is important to lower the vegetative density, through prescribed burns, to reduce the chance of wildfires. Prescribed burns remove the dead, decaying, or low-lying plants on the forest floor, thus limiting the spread and increasing the control of wildfires. Please visit the Division of Forestry to learn more about wildfires and prescribed burns in Florida.

As a resource management and wildfire suppression tool, The University of Central Florida land management team uses prescribed burns to control excessive fuel loads (i.e, dense vegetation), while making the campus green spaces more ecologically healthy. UCF's Prescribed Fire Coordinator writes all burn prescriptions, which are completed for each management unit and lists the specific conditions needed to meet the burn goals and objectives (including weather conditions, equipment needed, crew needed, site maps and other pertinent information to have a safe, successful prescribed fire). These conditions typically dictate the effects of the prescribed fire. During the prescribed burn, UCF staff, including the Prescribed Fire Coordinator and UCF Burn Boss, will be on the burn site monitoring the burn. All personnel involved in the fire have been trained and certified to participate in prescribed burns.

If you live near UCF, and are concerned about a burn, the best action to take is to visit our website and email the Prescribed Fire Coordinator (see 'About Us' for email contact). All questions and concerns will be answered as soon as possible, as we are interested in your input and want you to feel safe during our prescribed burns. Also, please keep in mind that it will be best to keep your children and pets inside while the burn is being conducted to ensure your family's health and safety.