Previous Prescribed Burn Helps Contain Weller Avenue Fire

A prescribed burn conducted in March by Escambia County's Natural Resources Conservation Division significantly contributed to the containment of the recent Weller Avenue Fire, which did not damage or destroy any homes despite reaching an estimated 70 acres. 

The prescribed burn took place March 13 in the Jones Swamp Wetland Preserve, in the area north of Jones Creek between Gulf Beach Highway, U.S. 98 and Fairfield Drive. The Jones Swamp prescribed burn was approximately 63 acres. 

Without the prescribed burn, the Weller Avenue Fire could have spread much faster and farther with more brush and trees to burn. Prescribed burns can have many benefits including reducing the risk of fires by reducing fire fuels, removal of unwanted species that threaten an ecosystem, improving habitat for game, recycling nutrients back in the soil and promoting the growth of trees, wildflowers and other plants.

“Prescribed fire has a two-fold benefit in these areas,” said Joe Zwierzchowski, Wildfire Mitigation Specialist for Blackwater. “First, the fire reduces the fuel load – the vegetation that has built up behind the homes and neighborhoods – and that will reduce the intensity of any fire that might occur there. That makes it easier to fight and poses less of a threat to residents. Second, the natural benefits of prescribed fire are tremendous. We live in a fire-dependent ecosystem and we have eliminated natural fire from the landscape for so long that we’re seeing historic fuel buildups and more dangerous fires.”

The Weller Avenue Fire threatened 20 homes early on, but a cooperative effort between the Florida Forest Service and Escambia County Fire Rescue ensured that no homes were damaged and no one was injured in the fire. The fire started Monday afternoon, May 7, and was 90 percent contained by about 9 p.m., with a line around the entire perimeter of the fire. It is now 100 percent contained. 

On average, the Escambia County Natural Resources Conservation Division burns approximately 65 acres per year through prescribed burns in the Jones Swamp Wetland Preserve. 

"Protection and enhancement of our natural resources is a collaborative effort of multiple agencies," said Environmental Technician Jeff Hester with the county's Natural Resources Conservation Division. "The reduction of wildfire and its negative effects is one of the benefits of prescribed burning, and Escambia County is glad that our prescribed burn aided in the suppression of the wildfire and in turn, the protection of life and property."

The Florida Forest Service also actively works to conduct prescribed burns and wildfire mitigation throughout the area and works with forest landowners whose property abuts developed areas. Forest Service crews create fire breaks between forested areas and homes using mulching machines to prevent a wildfire from reaching a neighborhood or a structure fire from spreading to the woods. Often times, the lines are then used to help conduct prescribed burns and decrease the risk in the area further.

For more information on wildfire mitigation, contact Zwierzchowski at 850-983-5310 or at [email protected].


Please note: This map is to illustrate where the wildfire encountered the prescribed burn. It is not an official measure of the fire perimeter.