HOMESTEAD, Florida: Everglades National Park will be conducting the Hole-in-the-Donut (HID) East prescribed burn on Tuesday, March 12, 2013 (weather permitting). The 1,736 acre prescribed burn began at 9:30 a.m.
The general location of this prescribed burn is approximately 1 mile south of Research Road; 3 miles south, southwest of the Royal Palm Visitor's Center and 1 mile east of the Nike Missile Base (map attached).
Staff and equipment dedicated to this prescribed burn include: 1 Burn Boss, 1 engine,
1 helicopter with crew, 2 utility vehicles (Kubotas), 1 firing squad, and 1 Fire Effects Monitor. Fire operations are set to continue throughout the day (weather permitting).
Controlled burns are an important part of natural resources management at Everglades National Park. As part of the Hole in the Donut restoration process, fire is an important function and part of the long term management process. The goal of the prescribed burn is hazardous fuel reduction, and is a part of the long term project to permanently remove Brazilian pepper from the area and to eventually return it to a marl prairie wetland community with its associated wildlife. More information about the Hole-in-the-Donut restoration project is available at this link:https://www.nps.gov/ever/ naturescience/holeinthedonut. htm
Information on the fire management program can be found athttps://www.nps.gov/ever/ parkmgmt/firemanagement.htm. Any questions on this prescribed burn can be directed to Everglades National Park at 305-242-7714.
-NPS-
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
