St. Joseph Bay Buffer Preserve Prescribed Fires

The St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve conducted two prescribed burns on May 14 and 15, covering a total of 294 acres. The fires were set to reduce excess fuel and support native plant communities. One of the zones had not been burned since before Hurricane Michael and had a significant buildup of vegetation that could pose a wildfire risk. This area also featured a mix of habitats, including dome swamps, depression marshes and mesic flatwoods, which made the burn more complex. After many hours on the fire line, crews successfully reduced fuel loads in the zone and improved conditions for several endangered species, including Telephus spurge, tropical waxweed and pine lilies, which rely on open space created by fire to thrive.