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Firefighters Protect Home of Florida Panther

April 2009

When east winds blew embers April 23 from a large, fast-moving wildfire onto the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, its fire crew moved into action against the advancing flame front. Besides intense fire activity encroaching on habitat for one of the nation’s most endangered species, smoke from the Deep Fire hampered travel on Florida’s “Alligator Alley” Interstate 75 connecting the west and east sides of the Florida Panhandle.

The refuge’s fire crew of nine, with the help of firefighters from A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, National Park Service, State of Florida, and local fire departments, used a half dozen fire engines to conduct a large “burn out” operation. By the following day, they had safely removed a 1600-acre strip of flammable vegetation about 2 miles long. The tactic prevented further spread of fire onto the 26,400-acre refuge, located about 20 miles east of Naples.

“We already have established trails and roads, which we maintain year-round and are able to use as firebreaks,” said refuge Fire Management Officer Kim Ernstrom. “This greatly contributed to us being able to conduct the burn.”

The Deep Fire, started by lightning on Big Cypress National Preserve on April 21, has grown so far to 27,000 acres in 7 days and is 20% contained. A Type 1 Incident Management Team is on site. As of April 28, there are 66 personnel, 9 engines, and 5 helicopters assigned. Fire response cost has accumulated to date to $288,000.

ngines, and 5 helicopters assigned. Fire response cost has accumulated to date to $288,000.


	Firefighters from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service watch for spot fires during a burn out operation to protect refuge lands from the advancing Deep Fire. Photo credit: Josh O'Connor, USFWS

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Did You Know...

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages public land in every U.S. state and territory, including 547 national wildlife refuges and 69 national fish hatcheries.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages 75 million burnable acres, including 24 million acres of forest/brushland and 4 million acres of grassland.

More than 50% of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands in the continental U.S. (and more than 90% in Alaska) include fire-adapted ecosystems with vegetation dependent on periodic fire.

An average of 500 wildfires burn 260,000 acres each year on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands. The Service also burns about 300,000 acres a year using prescribed fire.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service annual fire program budget is approximately $80 million.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employs more than 530 permanent fire professionals, along with 270 seasonal and temporary fire employees during fire season.

More than 3,000 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees are qualified to assist with wildland fire management on an interagency basis.

The U.S. Fish and Wildland Service Fire Management Program protects more than 700 communities and wildland-urban interface areas.

Historically, an acre was the amount of land tillable by one man behind an ox in one day. This measures 90% of a football field. There are 640 acres in a square mile.

More than 90% of the hazardous fuels reduction by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is completed using prescribed fire.

Inside Fire News

Inside Fire Management
2008 Issue

Refuge Update
Focus on.. Incident Command

Refuge Update
Focus on.. Fire Management