Fire is a common, natural force in most plant communities in Florida including scrub habitat and many types of wetlands. Scrub habitat burns approximately every 15-80 years. Fires that happen frequently will result in a type of scrub, often without sand pines. If fire occurs less frequently another type of scrub develops with mature sand pines. Under natural conditions fire would burn through sand pines, killing the sand pines. At this point the cones would release their seeds to start the cycle over. Without fire, these communities will develop into an unnatural condition with a loss of animal and plant diversity.

Prior to restoration efforts, large sand pines dominated this area. Because of the surrounding development, the likelihood of a fire occurring was remote and unsafe.

Since a fire would have been extremely dangerous with the sand pines in place, the first step was to harvest the sand pines to reduce the amount of fuel. To simulate fire, four primary methodologies were used to restore the site: controlled burning, root raking, roller chopping and harvesting.

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