You know Smokey the Bear? He meant well.
But he didn’t really understand fire. He thought all fire was bad. It’s actually not.
Low-intensity fires play an important role in healthy forests. They reduce the buildup of fuels, like pine needles, sticks and other natural material on the forest floor, lowering the risk of catastrophic wildfires. They also improve ecosystem health by recycling nutrients back into the soil and creating conditions that many native plants and wildlife depend on.
Historically, these low-intensity fires occurred naturally, often sparked by lightning. They were also intentionally applied by Tribal Nations through cultural and prescribed burning practices because these communities understood the many benefits that fire provides to the land.
Over the past 50 years, however, we largely removed these beneficial fires from the landscape. We misunderstood their value and failed to listen to the knowledge and experience of Tribal Nations. As a result, we’re now facing a serious challenge.
Decades of fire suppression have allowed fuels to accumulate across forests and wildlands. Pine needles, fallen branches, brush, and other vegetation have built up layer upon layer on the forest floor. In areas managed for timber, the risk can be even greater because dense stands of trees create additional fuel. When these conditions ignite, fires can quickly grow in intensity, producing the large, destructive wildfires we are seeing more frequently today.
But there is good news.
By learning from our Tribal partners and applying proven forest management practices, we can reduce wildfire risk and restore healthier ecosystems. One approach is forest thinning, which removes selected trees to reduce overcrowding and improve forest resilience. Another is returning good fire to the land through carefully planned, low-intensity prescribed burns. These controlled burns remove pine needles, sticks, brush, and other natural debris that would otherwise fuel severe wildfires. When a wildfire reaches an area that has been thinned and/or treated with prescribed fire, it often burns less intensely because there is simply less fuel available. These treated areas can act as important fire breaks, helping protect communities and giving firefighters a better opportunity to contain a fire.
And the benefits go beyond wildfire prevention. The return of good fire to the landscape supports healthier forests, improves wildlife habitat, promotes biodiversity, and helps restore natural ecological processes that have shaped these ecosystems for thousands of years. Some fire adapted plants rely on fire for successful reproduction, individual health, and ideal growing conditions.
Low intensity prescribed burns
Prescribed burns reduce ground fuels that can increase the intensity of wildfires while also helping restore healthy ecosystems. Our team prepares the site by creating fire lines and clearing brush. During specific times of the year, when conditions are optimal and moisture levels are appropriate, we conduct prescribed burns. After the burn, we monitor the area and extinguish any remaining fire. We then continue to monitor the site to assess the burn’s impact on the ecosystem.
