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Prescribed burning in sagebrush ecosystems has been used as a form of brush control for decades. However, more recently prescribed fire has been scrutinized because of concerns over negative impacts to sagebrush obligates such as sage-grouse. The role of fire in sagebrush systems is complex and often oversimplified.� Sagebrush response to prescribed fire varies due to biotic and abiotic factors that vary widely in sagebrush ecosystems. To add to the complexity of these responses, sage-grouse respond differently to fire depending on which habitat is impacted. For example, the use of prescribed fire in breeding habitats has been shown to have a�negative impact on sage-grouse populations.� However, there have been some instances of fire having a positive impact on late brooding rearing habitats.� Future use of prescribed fire in sagebrush systems is tenuous and will require managers to consider the ecological role of fire rather than viewing fire as a management tool.� This presentation will identify the potential use and limitations of prescribed fire in sagebrush systems and the impacts to sage-grouse.