Naples Botanical Garden is conducting a small, prescribed fire on approximately three acres of land in our Preserve. The blaze will be lit at a certain time and will be extinguished before sunset today. Garden staff will continue to monitor the area into the evening to ensure no hot spots went undetected.

Fire is a critical land management tool in Florida that encourages the growth of new plants, promotes seed distribution, and, critically, reduces accumulated plant matter that could fuel a wildfire. The Garden has spent approximately two years training and preparing the land for this event. Safety precautions include the creation of firebreaks to contain the blaze to its designated area and the removal of low-growing branches to keep the fire from climbing into the canopy. The Florida Forest Service and other regional conservation partners are on site and assisting Garden land managers.