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Prescribed burning

Prescribed Burning is defined as the controlled application of fire to wildland fuels in either a natural or modified state. It is conducted under specific environmental conditions, which allow the fire to be confined to a predetermined area and at the same time produce the intensity required to attain planned resource management objectives.

Simply put, prescribed burning is fire applied in a skillful manner, in a definite place while under exacting weather conditions to achieve specific results. A burn authorization is obtained from the Division of Forestry and the prescription is executed by a certified burn manager, also called a "Burn(ing) Boss."

Controlled Burning is the practice of burning fuels to meet the needs of landowners. The burn is kept in control through the use of control lines and may be executed by an individual with experience in controlled burning. No written prescription is prepared or required to receive a burn authorization from the Division of Forestry.

Volusia County Fire Services uses four certified Burn Manager or Burn(ing) Bosses. Each Burn Boss has taken the Prescribed Burner’s Course, participated in several prescription burns and written an executed prescription burn plan. These formal prescriptions were reviewed and approved by the Nature Conservancy prior to the execution of the burn.

Volusia County Fire Services has successfully executed four prescriptions under the guidance of the Nature Conservancy in 1999 and early 2000. Each burn was well planned, control lines were placed where needed and a thorough mop-up was done prior to the burning crew leaving the area. No spot-overs occurred during the prescription burn and none of the burns rekindled after the burning crews left the area. Prescribed burns are conducted by the Firewalker Team.

Prescribed burning is fire...

• Applied in a skillful manner
• Under exacting weather conditions
• In a definite place
• To achieve specific results

Five steps to a prescribed burn