During these very dry, hot times of the year, brush fires are a common occurrence in Florida.
Guest Column/Dorothy L. Harris, Park Services Specialist
Highlands Hammock State Park/June 2004

Stay Fire Smart !
Has it been hot enough for you? I imagine it is, as nearly every bank clock in town states the afternoon temperature around 103 degrees! It’s probably not that warm, but it sure does feel like it most days. Out here in the Hammock, the extensive tree canopy definitely helps make the rising temperatures much easier to manage.
This natural Florida cycle of baking heat is quite easy to notice as you walk along the famous Cypress Swamp catwalk. You will instantly note that water levels are greatly receded, mostly due to evaporation during these hot, dry afternoons.

Wildlife is adapting to the loss of their watery habitats by relocating to other areas in the park that still have some seasonal ponds of water. As each of these areas dries up, the next few weeks will present challenges to all of us-human and animal alike

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The wildlife will be searching for water in order to survive, and we’ll all be searching for some place to cool off. This is not the time of year that you want to head out on a hike without drinking water or sunblock. As we try our best to not be grouchy in the hot afternoons, there are some other things we should be careful of too.
During these very dry, hot times of the year, brush fires are a common occurrence in Florida. Due to the natural systems here, periodic fire is actually quite a normal situation.

Long before Florida was developed, fires burned over much of the landscape, stopping only when reaching natural fire extinguishers like rivers or creeks. In the process, thousands of acres of native plants were consumed by lightning-strike fires.

This seasonal process has shaped our native ecosystems, and many plants actually thrive in spite of these fires. Did you know that many contain resins, oils, or saps that actually render them quite flammable?
During these very dry, hot times of the year, brush fires are a common occurrence in Florida.
This is why you need to be on guard during the next few weeks. When camping at Highlands Hammock or any Florida State Park, please be sure to follow any current fire regulations that may be in place. Always extinguish your campfires, and never build a fire on the ground, unless it is contained in a fire ring or grill. Consider where your fire is built and be cautious of low hanging tree limbs, especially if you like to build large fires. It is great fun to roast marshmallows, but we don’t want you to roast yourself or the park in the process. Also, always extinguish fires completely prior to leaving your campsite.
Another smart park tip is to not to dump your hot coals onto the ground. After your next cookout or BBQ at the park, please leave hot coals in the grills, or dispose of them in proper receptacles.

Dumpsters are not the place to dispose of hot coals, as dumpster fires may occur! Also while enjoying the breezy evenings, or strolling on a nature trail, please be sure to dispose of any cigarettes into a nearby trash receptacle, rather than risk starting a fire in the parched underbrush.
At Highlands Hammock State Park, our active prescribed burn program has significantly reduced fuel loads in many areas.

There are, however, many areas that still have dense amounts of vegetation built up.

We will continue to reduce fuel loads, improve the ecosystems, and provide wildfire protection with our prescribed burn and resource management programs.
Prescribed Burn Program
A Ranger Limits The Burn From A Fire Engine
In the meantime, all of us should continue to practice good fire safety.

Soon, those first few claps of thunder will signify the beginnings of our afternoon storms, and the heightened probability of lightning-strike fires
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Remember that until our native forests are good and soaked, stay fire smart, and enjoy these seasonal nuances of the “the Real Florida.”
Park Staff Carefully Oversee The Prescribed Burns
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