Get reliable rangeland science

Fire, as a naturally occurring disturbance on the landscape, can occur wherever there is vegetation and conducive climatic conditions. Fire produces unique effects that are beneficial to the native flora and fauna that cannot be reproduced through grazing, mechanical treatment, or herbicide application. Prescribed fire can be used safely as a viable tool at a smaller scale to manage rangelands. To be successful, it is important to consider all the economic, social, spatial and physical attributes of the land and the surrounding area. Applying prescribed fire requires planning, preparation, and implementation. Planning and preparation may take a considerable amount of time. Initially you have to determine your objective, formulate the prescription to meet the objective, manage for fuel loading, and establish a burn unit with defensible barriers. There are rules that you must follow that are regulated by state and federal law. You must be covered for liability. There are entities that can help and hinder your implementation. Some beneficial resources include local, state and federal government agencies, prescribed burn associations, non-government organizations and your neighbors. These are people with knowledge, experience, and equipment who can help you be safe, successful, and limit your risk of liability. Why would these people want to help you? So that fire can continue to be used as a management tool on the landscape. Because the use of prescribed fire can offset the risk of wildfire by reducing fuel loads when conditions are less extreme. Because the use of fire as an incorporated tool means that sound management is occurring on the landscape.