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FLORIDA <br />Florida Forest Service, Dist�ric�t 16 -Indian Rliver County <br />FOREST SEW a <br />Wildland fire protection is the primary responsibility for Florida Forest Service personnel in Indian River County. The <br />Florida Forest Service activities in Indian River County include wildfire detection and suppression, private and public <br />landowner assistance (plowing or harrowing pre -suppression fire lines, roller chopping, prescribed burning, etc.), and <br />conducting wildfire prevention programs. <br />The following is a breakdown of fire management activities performed by the Florida Forest Service in Indian River <br />County for Fiscal Year 2017/2018. The Florida Forest Service suppressed 20 wildfires in Indian River County which <br />burned 793 acres. Lightning accounted for 69.56 percent and <br />authorized acreage burns 26.36 percent of the total fire acres. A total <br />of 875 burn authorizations were issued to customers in Indian River <br />County. Burn types included 2,989 piles and 13,082 acres. For fiscal <br />year 2017/2018, Indian River County was assessed $13,821.36 for fire <br />management services on 197,448 acres. <br />To reduce the threat of wildfires, the Florida Forest Service in Indian <br />River County worked closely with Indian River County Conservation <br />and private landowners to treat several Wildland Urban Interface <br />areas in Vero and Sebastian by roller chopping, mowing, and burning <br />on approximately 150 plus acres. <br />The Florida Forest Service cooperates with Indian River County Fire <br />Rescue and Florida Park Service by working together to extinguish <br />wildfires as well as leasing federal excess vehicles and equipment. <br />Currently the Florida Park Service in Sebastian has two (2) heavy trucks that are outfitted with fire suppression <br />equipment and one mechanics truck. <br />Fire Prevention programs are essential to reduce the occurrence of human -caused fires. The Florida Forest Service has <br />been tremendously successful in using Smokey Bear Programs to teach children about fire safety. Teens and adults are <br />also educated to use fire responsibly and taught the difference between good fire and bad fire. Last year the wildfire <br />prevention message was taken to The Firefighters Fair, Frog Leg Festival, IRC public service event, Fellsmere night out, <br />IRC Sheriff's bbq, and many local events in the community. <br />In all activities, our mission is to protect and manage the forest resources of Florida, ensuring that they are available <br />for future generations. <br />21 Page <br />5 <br />