An aerial view of prescribed fire / NPS

The National Park Service, in partnership with the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, is launching a large-scale prescribed fire operation in late January, continuing through February. The 151,434-acre Boundary Prescribed Fire Project, situated south of US Highway 41 between mile markers 36 and 44, includes the Miccosukee Reserved Area. This initiative transcends jurisdictional boundaries, leveraging resources from federal, tribal, state, and local entities to conduct controlled burns. The project’s goals include reducing hazardous vegetation, creating a vital firebreak to protect the Miccosukee Reserved Area, restoring ecosystems, preserving cultural values, and enhancing public and firefighter safety.

“This collaboration allows us to approach prescribed fire at a landscape scale,” said Superintendent Pedro Ramos of the NPS in South Florida. “Nature doesn’t recognize jurisdictional boundaries, so managing fire across them benefits ecosystems and improves safety for people and infrastructure.”

The project will be executed in multiple phases, integrating agency expertise with the tribe’s traditional ecological knowledge. Phases 1 and 2 will focus on treating the western and northern perimeters, using Shark Valley Tram Road as a natural barrier and securing nearby residences. In Phase 3, fire will be applied strategically across the remaining areas based on fuel and water conditions to meet ecological goals outlined in the treatment plan.

“The Tribe is honored to partner with the NPS and Bureau of Indian Affairs on these vital land management efforts,” said Kevin Cunniff, Chief Sustainability Officer of the Miccosukee Tribe. “This work is guided by the traditional knowledge and practices the Miccosukee people have used to shape the Everglades and Big Cypress for millennia.”

Prescribed fire plays a critical role in reducing wildfire risks by managing vegetation buildup and supporting resilient ecosystems. Fires help control invasive plants, restore habitats for threatened species, and enable recovery from hurricanes. This project aligns with the Miccosukee Tribe and NPS Co-Stewardship Agreement, which prioritizes wildfire prevention to protect the Miccosukee community, recognized as a Wildland Urban Interface Community at Risk.

Careful monitoring of weather, fuel moisture, and smoke conditions will guide the burn schedule, which remains flexible based on environmental and regulatory factors. By working together, South Florida’s tribal, federal, state, and local partners are addressing wildfire risks at a landscape scale, reinforcing the importance of collaboration in preserving both cultural and natural resources.

For updates on the project and related closures, visit:

• InciWeb: Boundary Prescribed Fire Information
• Everglades National Park: Conditions and Alerts
• Big Cypress National Preserve: Park Conditions