Prescribed Burning for Habitat Management and Wildfire Risk Reduction

Prescribed burning, also known as controlled or planned burning, is a deliberate and carefully managed fire intentionally set under controlled conditions. Landowners and managers use it for a range of purposes including fuel reduction, woody mid-story competition reduction, wildfire prevention, and habitat improvement for wildlife. It is a proven land management tool that, when executed properly, can help you meet multiple ecological and safety goals at once.

Prescribed fire can reset succession and increase food and cover availability for most wildlife species. Burning during the growing season is effective for controlling woody species and promoting broadleaf forbs, while burning during the dormant season tends to promote grasses over forbs. By choosing the right timing and technique, land managers can tailor the outcome to the specific habitat goals for your property.

A backfire is set so that the fire slowly backs into the wind, making it slower and less intense than a head fire. Because the flame spends more time in contact with woody stems, backfires are more effective for controlling woody species. A head fire moves quickly with the wind and is better suited for fuel reduction and promoting understory growth.

Yes. Prescribed burning reduces the accumulation of flammable vegetation such as dead leaves, branches, and underbrush. By removing or reducing these fuels through controlled burns conducted during favorable conditions, the risk of a larger, uncontrolled wildfire spreading through your property is significantly lowered. It can also be used to control invasive plant species, giving native vegetation a competitive advantage and further improving overall land health.

AFM land managers are trained professionals who devise well-thought-out plans before any burn takes place. Safety measures include careful consideration of weather conditions such as wind and humidity, identifying appropriate fuel types, creating firebreaks, and continuous monitoring throughout the burn. These steps are taken to protect both people and property while achieving the desired land management outcomes.

Prescribed burns are carefully planned with consideration of weather conditions, fuel types, and the desired ecological or land management outcomes. AFM land managers coordinate all of these factors to ensure the burn is carried out safely and effectively. The specific timing, such as growing season versus dormant season, and the technique used are chosen based on your property's unique goals, whether that is woody species control, fuel reduction, or habitat improvement.