Agenda 09/13/2022 Item #16D10 (Memorandum of Understanding for Prescribed Fire Operations)09/13/2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the Memorandum of
Understanding between Collier County and the Central/South Florida Prescribed Fire Working
Group for prescribed fire operations.
OBJECTIVE: To approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Board of County
Commissioners (Board) and the interagency partners within the Central/South Florida Prescribed Fire
Working Group for prescribed fire operations.
CONSIDERATIONS: Prescribed fire is the controlled application of fire by a team of experts under
specified weather conditions. The use of prescribed fire can reduce the threat of wildfire to the
community, maintain habitat for fire-dependent plant and animal species, and is the most cost-effective
method for long-term land management in comparison to mechanical and chemical means.
The Conservation Collier Program currently manages twenty-one (21) nature preserves throughout
Collier County. Of these twenty-one (21) preserves, prescribed burning is utilized as a management tool
by certified staff on eleven (11) properties across 3,923 acres. Prescribed burning programs are most
limited by personnel, equipment, and local weather. The Collier County burn program consists of six (6)
certified fire crew personnel, as well as two (2) off-road water suppression vehicles equipped with one
hundred and twenty (120) gallons of water storage, which is below the minimum required parameters to
conduct a prescribed burn. Thus, current staffing and equipment levels necessitate collaboration with
outside agencies in order to achieve the annual management goals of this County burn program.
Over the past thirteen (13) years, the County has collaborated with interagency burn crews to provide
personnel and equipment on a reciprocal basis to conduct prescribed burns across agency lines without a
formalized agreement. Collier County has historically burned with agency members from the Florida
Forest Service, South Florida Water Management District, Florida Fish and Wildlife Cons ervation
Commission, and Florida Department of Environmental Protection; all of whom are current members of
the Central/South Florida Prescribed Working Group and are parties to the MOU. These interagency
partners are now requiring participation in this MOU to continue future assistance for prescribed burns.
The MOU seeks to formalize an existing agreement with the parties as to the specific rules and
regulations for personnel to contribute to prescribed burns and the framework to facilitate regional burn
assistance.
Collaboration amongst interagency burn crews provides substantial cost savings to the County through
equipment and trained personnel sharing. The cooperation outlined in this document aims to unite skills,
tools, and abilities, so the combined burning accomplished by interagency partners will exceed what the
respective agencies and entities could accomplish independently.
FISCAL IMPACT: Continuing to partner with trained interagency burn teams will significantly reduce
the cost and frequency of contracting out specialized equipment and personnel required to maintain fire-
dependent natural communities on County lands and adjacent conservation areas.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: Controlled burns facilitated through this agreement will
enhance urban fuel reduction projects and reduce wildfire risk within the community.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item is approved as to form and legality and requires a majority
vote for Board approval. -SAA
16.D.10
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09/13/2022
RECOMMENDATION: To authorize the Chairman to sign the attached Memorandum of
Understanding between Collier County and the Central/South Florida Prescribed Fire Working Group for
prescribed fire operations.
Prepared By: Molly DuVall, Senior Environmental Specialist, Parks and Recreation Division
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. EN0006 Prescribed Fire Notification_Parks Procedure (PDF)
2. South Central Florida Prescribed Fire Working Group MOU (PDF)
16.D.10
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09/13/2022
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 16.D.10
Doc ID: 22957
Item Summary: Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the
Memorandum of Understanding between Collier County and the Central/South Florida Prescribed Fire
Working Group for prescribed fire operations.
Meeting Date: 09/13/2022
Prepared by:
Title: – Public Services Department
Name: Todd Henry
08/03/2022 12:51 PM
Submitted by:
Title: Department Head – Public Services Department
Name: Tanya Williams
08/03/2022 12:51 PM
Approved By:
Review:
Parks & Recreation Molly Duvall Additional Reviewer Completed 08/03/2022 4:12 PM
Parks & Recreation Olema Edwards Additional Reviewer Completed 08/03/2022 9:02 PM
Operations & Veteran Services Jeff Newman Additional Reviewer Completed 08/09/2022 2:02 PM
Parks & Recreation Summer BrownAraque Additional Reviewer Completed 08/09/2022 4:03 PM
Public Services Department Todd Henry PSD Level 1 Reviewer Completed 08/10/2022 8:33 AM
County Attorney's Office Sally Ashkar Level 2 Attorney Review Completed 08/10/2022 8:57 AM
Public Services Department Tanya Williams PSD Department Head Review Completed 08/15/2022 6:14 PM
Office of Management and Budget Debra Windsor Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Completed 08/16/2022 9:27 AM
County Attorney's Office Jeffrey A. Klatzkow Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Completed 08/16/2022 2:25 PM
Office of Management and Budget Christopher Johnson Additional Reviewer Completed 08/29/2022 10:48 AM
County Manager's Office Dan Rodriguez Level 4 County Manager Review Completed 09/06/2022 9:56 AM
Board of County Commissioners Geoffrey Willig Meeting Pending 09/13/2022 9:00 AM
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COLLIER COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION EFFECTIVE DATE: August 2021
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURES MANUAL REVISED:
REVIEWED:
SUBJECT: Prescribed Fire Planning and Notification PAGE 1 of 3
CATEGORY: Environmental NUMBER: EN0006
C:\Users\Sutton.Maehr\Downloads\EN0006 Prescribed Fire Notification.docx
PRACTICE:
Collier County recognizes that organized, intentional, and controlled fires known as prescribed burns are
land management best practices benefit natural habitats, reduce fuel loads within preserves to protect
against the danger posed to preserves and neighboring properties by wildfire. In addition, prescribed burns
are an economical way to manage invasive exotic vegetation.
PROCEDURE:
1. Burn authorizations are obtained from the Florida Forest Service.
2. Land Managers engaged in Prescribed Burning must complete minimum training courses (S-130
Basic Fire Fighting and S-190 Basic Fire Behavior) prior to participation and must follow all
applicable Florida Statutes and Ordinances.
3. Land Managers will seek approval from the Parks and Recreation Division Director prior to
participation in a prescribed fire.
4. Planning Prescribed Burns
a. Annual Prescribed Burn Plan
i. Developed and distributed in October at the beginning of the Fiscal Year
ii. Include prescribed burn location and the burn target date & period
b. Variable Scheduling
i. Many factors must be considered before determining the precise day and time
appropriate for a prescribed burn
a. Relative humidity
b. Temperature
c. Wind direction
d. Heat index
e. Dispersion
f. Other weather factors.
ii. Staff has a target time frame for burning, however the burn date may get delayed due to
not having optimal conditions for burning safely.
5. Notification
a. Land Managers are responsible for notifying neighbors prior to conducting a prescribed fire
within Collier County property.
i. Information should include a general target date as well as a target time frame that
includes the earliest possible date and the latest foreseeable date.
16.D.10.a
Packet Pg. 2626 Attachment: EN0006 Prescribed Fire Notification_Parks Procedure (22957 : Central/South Florida Prescribed Fire Working Group)
COLLIER COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION EFFECTIVE DATE: August 2021
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURES MANUAL REVISED:
REVIEWED:
SUBJECT: Prescribed Fire Planning and Notification PAGE 2 of 3
CATEGORY: Environmental NUMBER: EN0006
C:\Users\Sutton.Maehr\Downloads\EN0006 Prescribed Fire Notification.docx
b. Land Managers will notify relevant County departments, and relevant State and Federal
agencies prior to conducting a prescribed fire within Collier County property. Prior to a
prescribed fire, the following Collier County agencies will be notified:
i. Board of County Commissioners (Commissioner of District where burn is planned)
ii. Bureau of Emergency Management Director and Emergency Management
Coordinator
iii. EMS Department, Special Operations Deputy Chief
iv. North Naples Fire District Chief or Greater Naples Fire District Chief (depending on
of Fire District where burn is planned)
v. Sheriffs’ Office (Substation where burn is planned)
vi. County Manager’s Office, County Manager and Deputy County Managers
vii. Public Services Department Administrator / Department Head
viii. Communications and Customer Relations Department Manager
ix. Risk Management Division Director
x. Facilities Management Division Director
6. Notification Timeline
a. Annual Schedule October
i. Provide annual calendar approved by the Parks and Recreation Director and list of
agency representatives identified in Section 5b.
ii. Include the preserve name, location, and approximate time frame for burns.
b. Notifications 1 Month Prior to Burn
i. Notification letters sent to neighbors (if applicable) which include preserve name,
location, target date, and overall time frame including earliest possible date and latest
possible date.
ii. Notify list of agency representatives identified in Section 5b. Include a map of preserve
location and possible burn dates based on weather forecasts.
iii. Provide notice on Conservation Collier website and update as needed.
c. Notifications 7-10 Days Prior to Prescribed Burn
i. Send public notice out through the Communication and Customer Relations Division.
16.D.10.a
Packet Pg. 2627 Attachment: EN0006 Prescribed Fire Notification_Parks Procedure (22957 : Central/South Florida Prescribed Fire Working Group)
COLLIER COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION EFFECTIVE DATE: August 2021
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURES MANUAL REVISED:
REVIEWED:
SUBJECT: Prescribed Fire Planning and Notification PAGE 3 of 3
CATEGORY: Environmental NUMBER: EN0006
C:\Users\Sutton.Maehr\Downloads\EN0006 Prescribed Fire Notification.docx
ii. Coordinate directly with the Florida Forest Service, appropriate Fire District, and other
agencies to assist.
iii. Update the Conservation Collier website with the latest information on when the burn
will occur.
d. Notifications 1 Day Prior to Prescribed Burn
i. Coordinate directly with the Florida Forest Service, appropriate Fire District, and other
agencies to assist.
ii. Update the Conservation Collier website with the latest information on when the burn
will occur.
iii. Notify list of agency representatives identified in Section 5b. Include a map of preserve
location
7. Reciprocal Support
a. If a State or Federal agency plans a prescribed fire on land adjacent to Collier County land
and the agency requests to include adjacent Collier County land within their fire prescription,
the agency conducting the burn and obtaining the Florida Forest Service burn authorization
will be responsible for notifications per their agency policy.
b. Collier County land managers will seek approval of the Parks and Recreation Director
immediately upon learning of such planned burns.
c. Collier County Parks and Recreation Certified Burn Managers may be asked to assist other
agencies with prescribed burns on state or federal lands.
i. Staff is generally provided a two-day notice in advance of a planned burn when
assistance is requested.
d. Reciprocal assistance is a usual and customary practice. It is beneficial in several ways:
participation with other agencies provides staff with burning experience; serves as continuing
education to maintain Prescribed Burn Manager Certification; and it provides a network of
support.
16.D.10.a
Packet Pg. 2628 Attachment: EN0006 Prescribed Fire Notification_Parks Procedure (22957 : Central/South Florida Prescribed Fire Working Group)
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Packet Pg. 2629 Attachment: South Central Florida Prescribed Fire Working Group MOU (22957 : Central/South Florida Prescribed Fire Working Group)
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