Prescribed fire is the application of fire under selected weather and fuel conditions to achieve specific goals. These goals include fuel reduction, maintenance of biodiversity, forest disease control, and the enhancement of habitat for threatened and endangered species.

These fires must be performed with the safety of both the prescribed burner and the public in mind. In 1990, the Florida Legislature passed the Prescribed Fire Act, which supports the importance of prescribed fire in Florida and sets guidelines for training and certifying prescribed fire practitioners.

In 1999, the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution recognizing the importance of prescribed fire to accomplish varied land management goals within the County.

Florida's unique ecosystems have been molded and shaped by the influence of fire. As a result of this dynamic process, many plants and animals in Florida not only tolerate fire, but often depend upon fire's rejuvenative properties.

Lightning has been the source for natural fire for millions of years in Florida, while native Indians, ranchers and cattlemen have been utilizing fire for various uses for the past 12,000 years. Both sources of fire are a constant presence in Florida, resulting in the often random occurrence and intensity of wildfires.

Before roads and houses fragmented natural areas, fires often spread uninterrupted over vast areas in Florida, burning for many weeks. Today, the potential for massive wildfires is very real. In 1998, the wildfires in Florida burned 34,000 acres in Brevard County alone. In Florida, the question is not if, but when fires will occur.