An Education on Understanding Brush Fires

THIS SEASON. THE SCENE, WILDFIRES TAKE A TOLL ALL OVER THE SUNSHINE STATE. ACCORDING TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES. THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 2700 WILDFIRES BURNING MORE THAN 260,000 ACRES OF LAND. THE CURRENT HEAT WAVE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA CERTAINLY COMES WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF THE HIGH HUMIDITY AND THAT CAN HELP TO LIMIT CONDITIONS THAT PROMPT WILDFIRES ARE AS WGCUS KATE KRONON LEARNED THAT MAKES NOW THE IDEAL TIME FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO COME TOGETHER AND LEARN HOW TO DEAL WITH ANY POTENTIAL FIERY SITUATIONS. >> WELCOME TO THE NAPLES BOTANICAL GARDEN AT FIRST GLANCE, THIS PLACE MIGHT SPARK FEAR FOR THE TROPICAL PRESERVED, BUT THIS FIRE IS ACTUALLY ON PURPOSE. GARDEN DIRECTOR OF NATURAL RESOURCES, ERIC FO TO SETTING THE LAND ON FIRE TODAY TO PREVENT FIRES TOMORROW. >> WHEN THE GARDEN PURCHASE THE LAND FIRE HAD BEEN PART OF THE HABITAT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, MAYBE DECADES. THAT'S NOT NATURAL. AND SO IT A LIGHTNING CAUSE. WILDFIRE STRUCK IN THERE THAT THE REAL PROBLEM AND SO BY DOING THESE CONTROLLED BURNS ARE REDUCING LIKE THE FUEL OF THE DEAD VEGETATION AND SO HOPEFULLY IF THERE IS A WILDFIRE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD WILL BE SAFER FOR IT. >> TODAY'S PRESCRIBED BURN IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER. THE GARDEN IS INVITING A HOST OF ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, STAFF FROM THE SANIBEL CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION TO BIG CYPRESS, PRESERVE TO EVEN THE MICCOSUKEE TRIBE OF INDIANS OF FLORIDA ARE LEARNING HOW TO BE BETTER EQUIPPED TO HANDLE PRESCRIBED BURNS LIKE EXPERIENCE BERNARD JEAN MCCOLLUM, WHO CONDUCTED PRESCRIBED BURNS FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND NOW VOLUNTEERS POST RETIREMENT WITH CORKSCREW SWAMP SANCTUARY. >> I'M DEFINITELY CONCERNED ABOUT PLANTS AND ANIMALS IN FLORIDA. THAT'S THAT'S MY WHOLE LIFE. SO IT'S IMPORTANT BURNS AND IF I CAN HELP. WE GET MORE AREAS BURNED. THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO. >> JAMES HANSEN, ROWLEY IS A NEW RECRUIT AND WORKS AS A NATURAL RESOURCES ASSOCIATE AT THE GARDEN. >> IT'S DEFINITELY A COOL. IT'S INTENSE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU GET TO SEE THE FLAME HEIGHTS LIKE DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THE HEIGHT OF WHAT THE ACTUAL GRASS HEIGHT IS. SO IT'S DEFINITELY LIKE A BIG WOW FACTOR. YOU CAN GET A LITTLE. YOU KNOW, ADRENALINE RUSH. YOU CAN GET A LITTLE AFRAID. MAYBE OF THE THE FLASHING THIS OF THE FLAMES AND THUS THE SNOW THAT. IF YOU ACTUALLY SIT BACK AND WATCH AND TAKE A BREATH LIKE YOU CAN SEE HOW THE FIRE IS BEHAVING. >> EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING TO LEARN. THAT PHONE HAS A SURPRISE FOR EVEN THE MOST EXPERIENCED FIRE VETERANS. >> WE USUALLY HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES HERE WITH SPOT OVER SOME THINGS LIKE THAT. THIS IS GOING TO BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE LIKE. >> SEE ALL THAT ACTION. SO SPOT OVER WOULD BE AN EMBER FROM A PRESCRIBED BURN. THAT LEAVES THE AREA AND LANDS A SUMMER IS NOT INTENDED ARE SUPPOSED TO. AND THEN IT STARTS ANOTHER FIRE. SO THAT FIRE IS NOW NOT PART OF THE PLAN IS THERE NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH AN ADDRESS. >> WHILE BURNERS PREPARE THEIR BRUSH TRUCKS, SPECIALIZED VEHICLES DESIGNED TO NAVIGATE WILD TERRAIN AND EXTINGUISH FIRES GARDEN STAFF SET OFF A SPOT OVER FIRE. >> DEFINITELY WAS SURPRISING. IT WOULD BE IN THAT POSITION THAT WOULDN'T NORMALLY HAVE BEEN WITH THE WIND DIRECTION THAT WE HAD TODAY. SO EVERYONE WAS KIND OF CONFUSE LIKE THERE'S A SPOT. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? SO IT KIND OF WAS GOOD PRACTICE LIKE KEEP EVERYONE ON THEIR TOES AND GOOD TRAINING YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE OUT IN THE BIGGER AREA AND FORESTRY. >> WERNER'S RUSHED TO CONTAIN THE SPOT OVER FIRE BEFORE IT SPREAD ITS. >> IN THE LINEUP. >> THEY QUICKLY GET THE BLAZE UNDER CONTROL AND THEIR REWARD. EVERYONE GETS A TURN, IGNITING PATCHES OF SAND COURT GRASS. >> REALLY CARE FOR THIS PAST. >> ALLISON WEBB IS A FIRM BOSS OR CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN CHARGE OF PLANNING AND EXECUTING BURNS. AN EMPLOYEE WITH CORKSCREW SWAMP SANCTUARY. SHE SHOWS RECRUITS HOW TO PROPERLY LIGHT A FIRE. ALL OF US ARE PRESCRIBED FIRE PRACTITIONERS AND IT'S A GREAT. >> CHANCE TO TAKE OUR KNOWLEDGE FOR THOSE OF US WHO'VE BEEN BURNING FOR A WHILE AND PASSED ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION AND CONTINUE THAT EDUCATION AND LEARN FROM EACH OTHER. >> AT THE END OF THE DAY AFTER EACH PARK HAS BEEN SQUASHED. THE BURNERS DISCUSSED HOW THEY'LL IMPLEMENT WHAT THEY PRACTICE. ONE THING PHONE IS SURE TO REMEMBER IS HOW THESE TEAMS CAME TOGETHER. I THINK THAT'S WHAT REALLY WHEN YOU GET THE MOST LEARNING IS WHEN YOU HAVE. >> DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN PERSPECTIVES COMING TOGETHER TO TEACH EACH OTHER. AND SO IT'S BEEN REALLY GREAT. I THINK THAT WAS SHOWN TODAY OUT IN THE FIELD FROM WHAT YOU ALL SAW. >> FORD WG SEE YOU NEWS.