Sanibel task force details prescribed burn plan
The Sanibel Prescribed Fire Task Force recently outlined its plan for this year’s prescribed burn operations on the island, which consists of four areas in total if the conditions are right.
On April 12, representatives from the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, city of Sanibel Natural Resources Department, Sanibel Fire and Rescue District and Lee County Mosquito Control District gave a presentation on why prescribed burns are conducted and the summer-fall plan. The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation is another task force member.
The targeted property for the refuge and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is the Botanical Site, while the SCCF and city are focused on the Sanibel Gardens, Erick A. Lindblad Preserve and Frannie’s Preserve.
Brian Pippin, fire operations specialist for the Southwest Florida region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, opened the virtual public meeting by explaining to attendees what prescribed burning is.
He explained that it is fire applied in a knowledgeable manner to the landscape, adding that certain environmental conditions are considered such as soil moisture, fuel conditions and recent rainfall, plus certain weather conditions including wind speed, wind direction, temperature and relative humidity.
Pippin continued that prescribed burns are conducted to reduce hazardous fuels, which minimizes the threat of catastrophic wildfire and maintains public safety, plus the burns are beneficial to wildlife.
He noted that the gopher tortoise and Sanibel rice rat depend on fire-maintained habitats.
Pippin added that prescribed burns reduce the frequency and intensity of wildfires.
“It also causes less damage to habitat and wildfire suppression,” he said.
Robert Gerwig, specialist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the refuge, showed an aerial photograph of Sanibel from 1950, noting that the vast interior was “basically an open prairie.”
“Fire is a natural part of the ecosystem,” he said, next showing a photo of a Spartina marsh before a prescribed burn. “With the hydrology being altered on the island, we get a lot of woody encroachment.”
Gerwig followed up with photos of the same marsh two weeks after the burn and two months later, pointing out that the burn helped to control the fuel load and improved the habitat for wildlife.
Lee County Mosquito Control biologist Robert Scarpantonio gave an overview of the different ways the district manages the mosquito population, noting that prescribed burns greatly reduce the eggs.
“Prescribed fire is extremely helpful to us and our mission,” he said.
As for when the burns will take place, Pippin pointed ahead to the summer and fall.
“The conditions have to be right for us to conduct a prescribed burn,” he said, explaining that public notification will be sent out in advance. “The actual day of the burn can really not be predicted.”
Sanibel Fire and Rescue District Division Chief of Training Tim Barrett spoke about what residents can do to reduce the risk of wildfire around their home to help ensure its safety during a prescribed burn.
“The big one is make sure we have access to the home with our trucks,” he said, citing about 11 feet high by 11 feet wide. “Realize how big the trucks are. If we can’t get down there, we can’t help.”
Barrett also advised property owners to clear their roof and gutters of leaves, keep pine needles away from attic vents and remove anything flammable near the home, which creates a defensible space.
“Make sure you can keep any fire from getting to the house and in the house,” he said.
Additional task force recommendations include:
– Trim dead palm fronds from trees.
– Trim tall grasses near the home.
– Prune large, leafy hardwood trees so the lowest branches are 6 feet to 10 feet above the ground.
– Do not store combustible materials such as gasoline containers, firewood, and building supplies under or around the home.
– Keep mulch and other landscaping material well watered.
Joel Caouette, environmental specialist with the city’s Natural Resources Department, highlighted the following recommendations for what the public can do on the day of a prescribed burn:
– Put away personal property, such as vehicles and outdoor furniture.
– Close windows and use air conditioning.
– Cover swimming pools.
– Keep pets indoors.
– Stay indoors to minimize the impacts or leave the island for the day.
Those who are sensitive to smoke can ask to be added to an email list maintained by the city for alerts on upcoming burns. To do so, contact Caouette at 239-472-3700 or Joel.caouette@mysanibel.com.
The public can also visit https://www.mysanibel.com/ to sign up for city announcements.
To reach TIFFANY REPECKI / trepecki@breezenewspapers.com, please email