Mt. Longleaf Pt. 2

This weekend I was able to go over to Alabama and assist on a prescribed burn at one of the new refuges in the southeastern United States. Mt. Longleaf NWR was established on a portion of the former US Army base Fort McClellan near Anniston, AL. The refuge was created in 2003 to improve manage and improve the health of the Longleaf pinelands in this area. Firefighters from eight refuges around the southeast assisted in the burn and we managed to burn 2500 acres in two days. The impact area signs are in areas that may still have some live rounds in the interior, we only heard what we believe to be old blank riffle shells going off. Mt. Longleaf is a beautiful refuge and I am sure I will be back to visit this area to see the results of this burn.

The following images are just a few more of the photos I took this weekend.

Mt. Longleaf NWR

Fort McClellan

Mt. Longleaf pt.1

Just a few outtakes from the prescribed burn at Mt. Longleaf NWR. Hope to get through all the photos and post a few more later.

10 years of fire in south Florida

As I move on to a new job in Atlanta within the regional office for the US Fish and Wildlife here's a look back at 10 years of my life. The top photo was taken on a fire in November of 2000. The bottom photo was taken by David Albers who works for Naples Daily News. It's been a very educational 10 years here in Florida and I will miss the environment and the people that I got to know so well in all the years. I know I will return for visits, and make sure you look me up if your travels bring you to Atlanta.

November 2000

Photo Credit: Jen H.


February 2009

Photo Credit: David Albers

Deep Fire (a look back)

I took some time yesterday to put together some photos from one of the longest days of my life in my fire career. These photos are from the end of the day, when it finally started to calm down, enjoy.

Muhly Grass Blooming

The muhlenbergia is blooming on the refuge, this area burned in a wildfire in July. Muhly grass responds very quickly to fire, we see the most blooms after a late spring early summer fire which is the typical fire season in south Florida. The purple was everywhere out in this prairie, amazing show of nature rebounding from a disturbance.

Helmet head

Taken on the Nancy Payton Preserve prescribed burn...

Bootlaces Fire

This same area burned 3 years ago in May 2006. With the ongoing drought it seems we have gained a large number of south florida slash pine seedlings in areas they wouldn't normally be found. The deer come in shortly after a burn here in Florida, and this buck was in rut chasing around a small doe.

Burnin' Burnin' Burnin'

End of the burn season, and now bring on the rains.

Pine Island Burn

A hot day to burn, but we managed to complete about 300 acres by hand this afternoon. Temperatures in the low 90s and humidity in the mid 50s!

Heli Work

These photos are from the Deep fire, the helicopter is used to cool down an area of heat alongside State Road 29.

Structure

Isles of Capri, Marco Island and Ochopee FDs have been very helpful during this wildfire, here's a few photos from day 3 of the Deep fire when we had to burn around the communication tower located on the refuge.

Deep Fire Photos

We have a fire on Big Cypress NP and Florida Panther NWR that has grown to over 10,000 acres in the last three days. It was started by a lightning storm early Tuesday morning.

After the fire... plamettos come right back

Burn on Sanibel

Yesterday we worked with Sanibel Capitva Conservation Foundation, J.N. Ding Darling NWR, Florida Division of Forestry, Sanibel City, Sanibel Fire Department, and Sanibel Police Department to burn about 60 acres in the middle of Sanibel Island. The burn was in a high traffic area along side one of the main roads to the beach access on the south side of the island. The burn went off without a hitch in large part due to all the assistance from the cooperators on the island and some very thorough planning. Here are the pictures, be careful out there in Florida it's getting dry!

Palm fronds can always cause problems.


The swamp buggy works the line around the jewelry store.


Andrew takes a strip of fire to the perimeter.


Looking back


Andrew got to experience the heavy spartina.


Brian checks out Andrew's handy work.


Burning along Tarpon Bay Rd, lot's of traffic, both vehicles and bikes along the bike path.


Tying off the marsh near the parking area in Bailey Tract.


Protecting the boardwalk.