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National Fire Plan Success Story

Bennett Prescribed Burn and Church Fire Success Story
Florida Division of Forestry, Nassau County, Florida
National Fire Plan - Community Assistance
2008

Aerial photograph of prescribed burn block on Bennett property surrounding Brandy Branch Church.
Prescribed burn block on Bennett Property surrounding Brandy Branch Church.

On February 23, 2004 the Florida Division of Forestry (DOF), Region Two Fire Management Team assisted the Jacksonville District’s Duval Work Area staff with a 30-acre hazard reduction prescribed burn on property joining the Brandy Branch Baptist Church off SR 121 in Nassau County. The Division completed a stewardship plan for the property that recommended a prescribed burn. The landowner then contacted the Forest Area Supervisor and requested his assistance.

This project involved plowing and harrowing fire lines around the uplands portion of the property to be burned, and then conducting the burn. The Fire Management Team, local forestry staff, and the landowner assisted with the burn that was successfully completed on the evening of the 23rd. This project protected 54 structures valued at $3.4 million, with a treatment cost of $420.00.

On Monday, March 19, 2008, a wildfire was reported at CR 121 and the Brandy Branch Church. The caller claimed the fire was moving fast and requested immediate assistance. When DOF crews arrived, the area of origin appeared to be on the north side of the church, next to the fence. Flames flanked eastward for 150 feet along the fence line and the harrowed line previously installed in 2004. Because the landowner had not maintained the fire line, flames crept across in one place scorching a small patch of grass on the church property, which was quickly doused by the DOF engine on scene. Fire behavior observed at the scene was light to moderate with fast moving, five foot flames in the grassy fuels scattered with young oaks and palmettos.

In total, the fire burned one acre and came within 60 feet of the church and 100 feet from the closest residence. Firefighters on the scene reported the fire was relatively easy to contain for two reasons:

  1. A fire line had already been established around the church property allowing the dozer operator to quickly and easily clean it out; and,
  2. The vegetative fuel load had been greatly reduced by the 2004 prescribed burn, resulting in light fire behavior with low flame lengths. Overall firefighters felt the previous mitigation work done on the property effectively protected the church and the nearby residences, even four years later.

For more information about this project, contact Annaleasa Winter, Wildfire Mitigation Specialist, Florida Division of Forestry, (904) 266-5008.