Why did a 700 acre fire break out at Myakka River State Park? What the officials say.

A viral social media post of the fire at Myakka River State Park raises questions about why the burns were prescribed in drought conditions.

The state agency told the Bradenton Herald that after park staff completed controlled burns last week, the wildfire lit the next day, burning more than 700 acres and flares up.

Manatee and Sarasota counties have been advised to ban burns. According to the National Weather Service, both counties have moderate and severe drought conditions.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the social media post had over 1,400 shares and 720,000 views. Facebook users expressed their complaints and concerns about the obvious decision to commit burns prescribed during the drought.

“When we’re so dry, they’re so annoying,” one person said in the post. “Why couldn’t we wait? And is everyone responsible for this?”

Another said, “The controlled burns during the ban (reckless) were definitely flying over our home, so we’re not as close as you guys… I was wondering, what are they thinking in the world?!?”

“This makes me so sad and mad,” reads another comment about the post.

A wildfire sparked at Myakka Park after controlling the combustion, the state says

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection told the Herald in an email that staff had suffered prescribed burns at Micca River State Park last Wednesday.

The next day, park staff observed the collapse of a “small wildfire” near the burn site, FDEP said.

Despite describing the fire as “small,” FDEP said it took several agencies to control it. Staff at Myakka River State Park called for staff from nearby state parks, the Florida Forest Service and Sarasota County to help. They had contained the fire by Thursday evening, the agency said.

The FDEP oversees the state park system, but the Florida Forest Service has approved the prescribed burns. The state agency did not explain its decision to perform prescribed burns in hot and dry conditions.

A representative from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which oversees the Forest Service, only said the burns were in compliance with state law.

“Formulated burning is an important tool to ensure that you don’t experience catastrophic wildfires like California,” FDACS Director of Communications Aaron Keller said in an email.

“Prescription fires are an important tool for maintaining a healthy ecosystem and our trained staff will follow strict safety protocols,” said Alexandra Kuchta, a spokesman for FDEP, in an email. “We are grateful to all the first responders who helped contain wildfires safely.”

Do controlled burns usually occur during drought?

Michael Elswick, division manager of Manatee County’s Natural Resources Division, explained in an email that while it is part of an area that can be safely burned in dry conditions, droughts are usually not permitted to fire.

“Even if containment isn’t an issue, long-term smoldering can have an over-effective effect on the community,” Elswick said in an email.

Elswick added that wettier conditions are more ideal as the fire can burn out.

“This helps limit the effects of smoke per day. Or, a fire that causes drought (wildfires) for several hours a day often smoldering duffs, macs and heavy fuels (logs) for several days,” Elwick said in an email.

Why is a controlled fire important?

Controlled burns are beneficial for wildlife, people and local ecosystems, according to state agencies, scientists and land managers.

“Prescription fires are an important conservation and land management tool used to reduce the accumulation of dangerous nutrient fuels, restore fire-dependent habitats and improve wildlife feed in Florida,” Elwick said in an email.

Elswick said that some native plants disappear from areas where fires are excluded, as they do not leave out, seed or germinate.

According to the FWC, the prescribed fire “reduces the risk to people and property from rapidly moving, catastrophic fires and reduces the intensity of wildfires when they occur.”

Elwick said that controlled burns prevent habitat from growing and inviolating, while preventing grasses and wild flowers from being placed on shrubs and grapes.

This allows wildlife to have space to move around and forage, he said.

“In Myakka, fires are important for the health of 78% of the park, and there are numerous natural communities that rely on fire to maintain the composition and structure of the plants,” a friend of the Myakka River nonprofit wrote on social media in response to the April 24th fire at the state park.

Which animals benefit from controlled fires?

According to the FWC, one native bird that relies on prescribed fires is the endangered species of Floridagrass Hopper Sparrow. Birds such as wild turkeys, gopher turtles, indigo snakes and Floridas Crab Jays have also benefited from controlled fires, according to the FWC.

“Florida animals, including bob-white quail, turkeys, white-tailed deer, gopher turtles, other birds, reptiles and amphibians, need fire and burrow to create the necessary low-growth feed diversity.

When will a controlled fire take place?

Manatee County’s 2025 burn plan includes 10,000 acres for nine jars, Elwick said.

Elwick said the busiest hours are June 15th to August 15th, with the county potentially causing two or more burns a day.

The prescription fire is planned several months in advance after wildlife biologists and land managers have identified areas that are profitable, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee. The Florida Forest Service will approve controlled burns if favorable weather conditions are present, the Wildlife Commission said.

The areas identified for prescribed burns vary year by year. The time between pine flatwood burns could be sandhill every 18 months to four years, and every 18 months to three years, the FWC said.

The Wildlife Commission said it has made every effort to minimize the impact on people, but burned areas are likely to smell smoke for a day or two.