Summary
Original southeastern US prescribed fire-themed sign templates are available here to download for free non-commercial use. These files can be customized and edited to include agency or organization logos and branding. Development of these sign templates was led by a team from the Southern Fire Exchange and the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences at the University of Florida IFAS. All credit for the sign artwork goes to Arti Chequer ([email protected]) and April Zee ([email protected]). Please direct all questions about the project and signs to [email protected].
Project Background
Prescribed fire signs have been used by land managers and landowners across the South to convey messages about the intentional use of fire. Prescribed fire, also known as controlled burning, can provide a wide variety of benefits, and prescribed burners are often eager promote awareness and understanding of the practice.
Around the year 2000, public agency partners in Florida developed a large prescribed fire sign template that was distributed to fire-managed public lands across the state. The sign project was an outcome of the exceptionally active 1998 Florida wildfire season. Post-fire analysis in Florida revealed that areas that hadn’t been managed with prescribed fire, experienced some of the worst wildfire impacts. Public agency leaders in partnership with the University of Florida cooperative extension produced, developed, and distributed approximately 150 of the signs across the state.
Many of the original signs from 2000 have been lost over time. Recent requests from public land managers for replacement signs have demonstrated demand for similar signage. In late spring 2021, an ad-hoc committee formed to explore opportunities, messages, and designs for a replacement sign. The intent of the 2021 committee was to develop replacement sign(s) that would be available as a graphic template that can be used as-as or further customized by agencies and organizations. The new sign graphics and templates (available below) were released in summer 2023.
New Prescribed Fire Sign Graphics and Templates
Note: These sign templates were not developed to adhere to any municipal or uniform sign codes or ordinances. Users of the sign templates assume all responsibility for their physical use and placement.
All of the sign files are available in .PNG, .EPS, and .PSD file format below. The .PSD files include the original graphic layers to facilitate customization. You can also download all of the sign files as a compressed file here: Prescribed_Fire_Signs.zip (37.3 MB).
Sign Design A Files and Graphics
The following sign graphics were produced with three use-cases in mind. The first sign, Design A, was developed to replace the circa-2000 prescribed fire sign design. The “Prescribed Fire Protects” language and artwork were created to support sign placement near roads, entrances, and where signs might be viewed from a vehicle or at a distance. These signs feature illustrations of plants and animals native to many frequent-fire ecosystems of the Southeast. The green and white color pallet is intended to complement placement near natural areas. The simple messages were crafted to connect the benefits of prescribed fire with a wide variety of audiences.
Gopher Tortoise Horizontal Sign
- Download the Horizontal Design A Gopher Tortoise .PNG File (177 KB)
- Download the Horizontal Design A Gopher Tortoise .EPS File (8.3 MB)
- Download the Horizontal Design A Gopher Tortoise. PSD File (2.4 MB)
Gopher Tortoise Circle Vertical Sign
- Download the Design A Gopher Tortoise .PNG File (197 KB)
- Download the Design A Gopher Tortoise .EPS File (6.6 MB)
- Download the Design A Gopher Tortoise .PSD File (6.5 MB)
Gopher Tortoise No-Circle Vertical Sign
- Download the Design A Gopher Tortoise No-Circle .PNG File (196 KB)
- Download the Design A Gopher Tortoise No-Circle .EPS File (6.6 MB)
- Download the Design A Gopher Tortoise No-Circle .PSD File (6.5 MB)
Liatris (v.1) Pollinators Vertical Sign
- Download the Design A Liatris Pollinators .PNG File (193 KB)
- Download the Design A Liatris Pollinators .EPS File (6.6 MB)
- Download the Design A Liatris Pollinators .PSD File (6.5 MB)
Liatris (v.1) No-Pollinators Vertical Sign
- Download the Design A Liatris No-Pollinators .PNG File (193 KB)
- Download the Design A Liatris No-Pollinators .EPS File (6.6 MB)
- Download the Design A Liatris No-Pollinators .PSD File (6.5 MB)
Liatris (v.2) Pollinators Vertical Sign
- Download the Design A Liatris2 Pollinators .PNG File (193 KB)
- Download the Design A Liatris2 Pollinators .EPS File (6.6 MB)
- Download the Design A Liatris2 Pollinators .PSD File (6.5 MB)
Liatris (v.2) No-Pollinators Vertical Sign
- Download the Design A Liatris2 No-Pollinators .PNG File (193 KB)
- Download the Design A Liatris2 No-Pollinators .EPS File (6.6 MB)
- Download the Design A Liatris2 No-Pollinators .PSD File (6.5 MB)
Sign Design B Files and Graphics
The second group of signs, Design B, were developed as a smaller entrance or trailside sign. Created to showcase landowner pride in prescribed fire management, these signs were designed to compliment similar landowner recognition signs from the Forest Stewardship Program, the American Tree Farm System, The National Wildlife Federation, and other programs.
This Land Proudly Protected with Prescribed Fire (Horizontal)
- Download the Property Sign Horizontal .PNG File (41 KB)
- Download the Property Sign Horizontal .EPS File (6.6 MB)
- Download the Property Sign Horizontal .PSD File (3.2 MB)
This Land Proudly Protected with Prescribed Fire (Vertical)
- Download the Property Sign Vertical .PNG File (374 KB)
- Download the Property Sign Vertical .EPS File (6.6 MB)
- Download the Property Sign Vertical .PSD File (3.2 MB)
We Proudly Protect this Land with Prescribed Fire (Horizontal)
- Download the Property Sign Horizontal .PNG File (422 KB)
- Download the Property Sign Horizontal .EPS File (6.6 MB)
- Download the Property Sign Horizontal .PSD File (3.3 MB)
We Proudly Protect this Land with Prescribed Fire (Vertical)
- Download the Property Sign Vertical .PNG File (374 KB)
- Download the Property Sign Vertical .EPS File (3.2 MB)
- Download the Property Sign Vertical .PSD File (6.6 MB)
Sign Design C Files and Graphics
The third sign, Design C, was developed as a template for organizations to customize to with their own messages about natural resource restoration projects. These could be “please excuse our dust” signs that touch on the often messy appearance of managed areas that are in the midst of active management. This sign template can be customized with agency logos and QR codes so that viewers can access additional information or project details.
Restoration in Progress Horizontal Sign
- Download the Design C .PNG File (554 KB)
- Download the Design C .EPS File (6.7 MB)
- Download the Design C .PSD File (2.6 MB)
Project Committee Members
- Dr. Rae Crandall, Assistant Professor, University of Florida School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences
- Dr. David Godwin, Director, Southern Fire Exchange, University of Florida School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences
- Laurel Kays, M.S., Former Outreach Specialist, Southern Fire Exchange, North Carolina State University
- Mary Nell Armstrong, Outreach Specialist, Southern Fire Exchange, Tall Timbers Research Station
- April Zee, Illustrator and Graduate Student, University of Florida School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences
- Arti Chequer, Graphic Designer and Graduate Student, University of Florida School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences
- Hope Miller, Former Graduate Student, University of Florida School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences
- Sasha Ernst, Former Fire Management Program Coordinator, Division of Recreation and Parks, Florida Department of Environmental Protection
- Milo Neelands, Undergraduate Student, University of Florida School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences