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,fLOA1DA) fi��� <br />Florida Forest Service, District 16 - Indian River County <br />Wildland fire protection is the primary responsibility for Florida Forest Service personnel in Indian River County. <br />The Florida Forest Service activities in Indian River County include wildfire detection and suppression, private <br />and public landowner assistance (plowing or harrowing pre -suppression fire lines, roller chopping, prescribed <br />burning, etc.), and conducting wildfire prevention programs. <br />The following is a breakdown of fire <br />management activities performed by the <br />Florida Forest Service in Indian River County <br />for Fiscal Year 2016/2017. The Florida Forest <br />Service suppressed 34 wildfires in Indian River <br />County which burned 1954.2 acres. Lightning <br />accounted for 35.29 percent and non - <br />authorized piles accounted for 14.71 percent <br />of the total fire acres. A total of 678 burn <br />authorizations were issued to customers in <br />Indian River County. Burn types included 2,952 piles and 39,520 acres. For fiscal year 2016/2017, Indian River <br />County was assessed $13,814.36 for fire management services on 197,348 acres. <br />Through the year, the Florida Forest Service worked closely with Indian River County Conservation to treat <br />several Wildland Urban Interface areas in Vero Beach and Sebastian by roller chopping, mowing, and burning on <br />one hundred (100) plus acres as well as several private landowner properties. <br />In addition to working with local fire departments to suppress fires, The Florida Forest Service also extended <br />assistance through training and the leasing of fire suppression equipment. Two (2) 6X6 trucks are currently on <br />lease to the St. Sebastian River Preserve, from the Florida Forest Service. <br />Throughout the year FFS personnel are actively engaged in delivering fire prevention and education programs to <br />the public on the risk of wildfire and the importance of prescribed fire. Key programs that are used include <br />Firewise, Ready -Set -Go, and Smokey Bear. Last year the wildfire prevention message was taken to the <br />Firefighters Fair, Frog Leg Festival, IRC public service event, Pelican Island Elementary, and other local events in <br />the community. <br />2(Page <br />P65 <br />