9 things to know about muck fires

ORLANDO, Fla. — Have you heard of a muck fire?

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The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Extention office explains what muck fires are and why they happen in Florida in a publication called “Fire in the Wildland-Urban Interface: Considering Fire in Florida’s Ecosystems.”

Here are nine things to know about the fires, according to IFAS, below:

1. Swamp fires typically originate in a neighboring ecosystem and spread into the swamp by ground fuels.

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2. Fires in swamps occur more frequently in South Florida than in North Florida.

3. Periodic low-intensity fires are needed to maintain natural species composition.

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4. Wildfires in swamps occur every five to 200 years.

5. Like marsh fires, swamp fires can become more of a hazard in dry conditions.

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6. During drought, fires can become intense and long-lived if the dead plant matter of the soil begins to burn, creating hard-to-control muck fires.

7. These muck fires can be more difficult to control than marsh muck fires because of the massive amounts of fuel accumulation.

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8. Muck fires produce a lot of smoke, which is a potential health and traffic hazard.

9. High-intensity fires in swamps can also be carried into tree crowns especially during a drought, or with the presence of ladder fuels.

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