Wildland Fire

The Florida Forest Service works to provide a level of fire management that reduces threats to life and property, forests and other related at-risk wildland resources, while promoting natural resource management through the use of prescribed fire.

We have developed programs, software, equipment, and a team of highly trained firefighters and foresters, with the goal of protecting one of the finest forest systems in the United States.

Prevention

Florida’s year-round risk of wildfire is a problem that cannot be handled with one simple program. We have established several program areas addressing the wildfire issues in the state. The first is our Fire Prevention Program. Smokey Bear remains an active part of our overall prevention message, but our work goes beyond Smokey.

The Firewise USA Program educates homeowners and community professionals about creating defensible space around their homes, helping to protect them from the dangers of wildfire. We also have developed several interactive programs to help teach everyone from fourth-graders to adults the benefits of fire prevention.

Prescribed fire is a cost-effective tool to reduce fuel buildups, which can cause dangerous wildfire conditions. The use of prescribed fire provides increased protection to people, their homes and the forest.

Assistance

The Florida Forest Service has created programs and services for hazardous fuel management. These Fire Management Services include fuel reduction, fireline plowing and prescribed burning. We have developed several ways to help with fuel management, such as the Florida Risk Assessment System and Smoke Screening Tool.

The Florida Forest Service also provides assistance through local volunteer and municipal fire department Grant Programs and Federal Excess Property. 

Protection

Our Fire Management Information System Mapping Tool indicates where all existing/active wildfires are in Florida, as well as where all open burn authorizations are planned on any particular day.

Specialized Equipment for wildfire prevention and firefighting is used to attack wildfire and respond to other emergency needs — no matter what the terrain or location — and includes one of the foremost aviation programs in the country. We use specially equipped helicopters in fire suppression and maintain a fleet of fixed-wing airplanes for detection and fire intelligence during suppression activities.

Program Resources

• Firewise Landscaping: Creating Defensible Spaces
• Know the Law Before Burning Outdoors in Florida: English [ 619 kB ] | Spanish [ 2 MB ]
• Open Burning Laws/Rules: Special Case Night Burns Map [ 2 MB ]
• Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants