Fired up for Fire Fest!

Night burn. PHOTO CREDIT: William Clifton.
Night burn. PHOTO CREDIT: William Clifton.

[dropcap]O[/dropcap]n October 17, from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Friends of Jonathan Dickinson State Park will proudly present Fire Fest 2015: a fun-filled, Halloween-themed family event educating the community about prescribed fire in Florida. The event focuses on increasing awareness and appreciation of the park’s unique wildlife and plants, recreational opportunities, and rich natural history.

Located just south of Stuart, in Hobe Sound, Jonathan Dickinson State Park teems with wildlife, including threatened and endangered species, in pine flatwoods, scrub, mangroves, and river swamps.

The most significant and effective tool used to protect and preserve wildlife and their habitat in the park is prescribed fire. In the early 1970’s park rangers, biologists, and managers recognized that fire is a natural part of Florida’s landscapes. However, wildfire, specifically fire that is started naturally from lightning strikes, is an unacceptable and unsafe way of managing our natural areas, so the Florida Park Service began its prescribed burn program.

Fire Fest welcomes everyone from the surrounding communities to view prescribed burning up close and talk to trained fire crew. Two fire demonstrations take place throughout the event, including one with a helicopter bucket drop and one in the evening after sunset. Smokey Bear will be there to support the crew too!

And there’s much more to Fire Fest than the burn demos, with children’s art activities, scrub-jay walks, night hikes, hayrides, swamp buggy trail rides, bounce house, fire truck demonstrations, spooky trail, and more! The event costs $6 for park entry for up to eight people per vehicle. Hayrides, swamp buggy rides, and bounce house and carnival games require additional fees; all other activities are free. So come on out, bring your friends and family, and spend a day the in the park!

Visit www.friendsofjdsp.org to learn more or contact the Kimbell Education Center in the park at (561) 745-5551.

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