![]() Muck and peat, the organic soils of the Everglades, retain water in conservation areas that later can be used in urban areas, Hofstetter said. Because Broward County and northern Dade County had so many fires, there is less fuel for the fires that ignite muck, he said. South Dade and Palm Beach counties are more likely to have muck fires this year than Broward County, which had many last year, Dempsey said. One muck fire in Central Florida burned for more than a year, he said. When muck catches fire, it becomes a smoldering layer of white ash that can burn for months, Dempsey said. But slow, hot and lengthy fires often burn into the ground and ignite the muck, he said. What Is A Controlled Burn?Ī prescribed fire, also known as a controlled burn or a planned burn, is a fire set intentionally by trained professionals uner specific weather conditions in order to achieve specific management objectives.Muck fires do not occur every time sawgrass and other plants catch on fire, Dempsey said. Prescribed fires are oten used as a management tool to reduce potential fuel for wildfires and improve ecosystem health. This type of fire produces a large amount of smoke and can be very dangerous. ![]() Muck fires are extremely difficult to extinguish due to the fact that they burn into the organic matter in the soil. This makes them particularly dangerous because they can be difficult to detect and extinguish. Root fires can also travel underground and resurface some distance from their point of origin. These fires can smolder for months, long after the surface fire has been extinguished. Yes, fire can spread underground through a process known as “root fires.” Root fires occur when the roots of plants or trees burn, often underground. Much of the vegetation that grows in wetlands is also highly flammable, including sawgrass, cattails, and cypress trees. These wetlands are primarily found in the southern and central parts of the state. And when there is little to no rainfall, these areas can stay dried out for long periods of time.įlorida is home to a large number of wetlands – over 11 million acres, or nearly one-fifth of the state's total land area. When organic materials like wet leaves and dead plants dry out, they become extremely flammable. Warm weather and high temperatures make conditions ripe for muck fires to start and spread. There are three primary reasons why muck fires are so common in Florida: the state's warm climate, its large amount of wetlands, and the type of vegetation that grows in those wetlands. Florida is one of the top places where muck fires occur, with at least one muck fire happening every three to five years. Muck fires in the United States commonly occur during periods of drought, when thee is lack of rain. Muck fires can also be found in agricultural fields where crop residue has been left on the ground. These areas are often found near bodies of water, as the organic matter is often deposited there by flooding. Muck fires are commonly found in the US in areas that have a high concentration of organic matter in the soil, such as marshes or swamps. People with asthma or other respiratory conditions are especially vulnerable to the effects of muck fire smoke. Particulate matter from muck fires can also irritate the respiratory system and cause coughing and difficulty breathing. Inhaling carbon monoxide can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, and in extreme cases, death. Because there is not enugh oxygen in the fire, muck smoke tends to have more carbon monoxide - a poisonous gas - and unburned particles than normal brush fires, Hofstetter said. The byproducts of muck fires are dangerous to nearby urban areas because they make breathing difficult, Hofstetter said. Muck fires, which are common in agricultural areas, are caused by the spontaneous combustion of decomposing organic matter.
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