A Comprehensive Guide to Fuel Management Practices for Dry 

Mixed Conifer Forests in the Northwestern United States

Prescribed Fire

Fire has had a profound historical role in shaping dry mixed conifer forests in the western United States. However, the uncertainty and complexity of prescribed fires raises 

the question “Is fire always the best option for treating fuels?” The decision to use prescribed fire is dependent upon several factors.

The benefits of prescribed fire include reducing hazardous fuels, disposal of logging 

debris, preparing sites for natural or artificial regeneration, improving wildlife habitat, 

managing competing vegetation, and controlling insects and disease. Because each location is unique in terms of fuels, on-site conditions, and predicted fire behavior, what 

works in one place may not work in another. The use and effectiveness of prescribed 

fire depends on the objectives, current conditions, and desired post-fire outcomes. Prescribed fire tends to work best when used for maintaining resilient forest conditions 

that have had either mechanical treatments or have been treated with multiple prescribed fires.

Uncertainty, Complexity and Risks

Even with the maximum amount of care and time invested in planning a prescribed 

fire, there is always an element of uncertainty. Weather can change creating conditions 

that may lead to an out of control escape, produce smoke, and pose risks to human and 

resource safety. The process is far more complex than using other treatment techniques 

because of unavoidable risks and the ever present potential for an escape.

To mitigate the uncertainty, there are several steps fire managers execute before conducting a prescribed fire. Experienced fire practitioners combine science, decision 

support tools (e.g., fire behavior models), and monitoring with their own experience 

and knowledge to reduce the risks of prescribed fire. The organization and equipment 

required to safely achieve the objectives and control the prescribed fire for instance, 

depend on the complexity of the prescribed fire. During implementation, onsite leadership is also critical. An onsite presence in the event of an escape, organizational charts 

indicating individuals and their associated tasks, and communication among all individuals involved is necessary for maintaining safety and tactical resource needs.

Unique Attributes

A successful burn is one that meets objectives without substantial unexpected events. 

Knowing parameters such as moisture content, seasonality, or the presence of masticated fuels is particularly useful in planning and implementating the prescribed fire. 

The ability to predict post-fire mortality based on damage to crowns, cambium, and 

roots is also essential for planning prescribed burns.

When used as a thinning agent, the level of success is dependent upon the target tree 

species and size, the availability of fuel to contribute to fire intensity, the weather conditions, and the live and dead fuel moisture. Tree species also have various levels of 

resistance to fire. Some tree species are highly susceptible to crown damage due to 

low crown base heights, highly flammable foliage, or heat sensitive buds. In those cases, mortality can be achieved with fast-moving, low-intensity surface fires that cause 

crown scorch and consumption but light damage to the cambium and roots. A manager 

can tailor a burn prescription to address these aspects in order to meet objectives and 

avoid excessive mortality.

United States

Department

of Agriculture

Forest Service

Rocky Mountain

Research Station

Research Note

RMRS-RN-62

April 2014
Citation

Jain, Theresa B.; Battaglia, Mike A.; Han, Han-Sup; Graham, Russell T.; 

Keyes, Christopher R.; Fried, Jeremy S.; Sandquist, Jonathan E. 2014. A 

comprehensive guide to fuel management practices for dry mixed conifer 

forests in the northwestern United States: Prescribed fire. Res. Note RMRSRN-62. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p. 

If a site such as a campground is highly visible to the public, 

or the goal is to minimize tree mortality, it may be advisable 

to take a conservative approach in restoration efforts.

Figure 2—Minimizing large old tree 

mortality may require additional 

parameters and strategies such as 

tree well burning or raking of deep 

duff layers surrounding trees.

Figure 1—In the Black Hills, South Dakota, 

prescribed fire is being used to determine its 

potential practicality for managing regeneration.

The use of wildfire as a management option is a technique 

that allows large acreages to be treated. Naturally ignited 

wildfires (from lightning) may burn in landscapes that once 

had fire as a major ecosystem disturbance as long as the 

impacts are within limits determined beforehand. To be an 

effective management tool, the land agency unit must go 

through a planning and analysis process, identifying areas 

where this practice is permitted, and determining acceptable 

fire behavior and effects.

Source

Jain, Theresa B.; Battaglia, Mike A.; Han, Han-Sup; Graham, 

Russell T.; Keyes, Christopher R.; Fried, Jeremy S.; Sandquist, 

Jonathan E. 2012. A comprehensive guide to fuel management 

practices for dry mixed conifer forests in the northwestern 

United States. Chapter 9. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-292. 

Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 331 p. Available 

online at www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/42150 [2012]. For a 

hard copy, contact Theresa Jain at tjain@fs.fed.us.