Modern humans have changed this balance by suppressing fire through out the 20th century. These burns are low intensity ground fires that consume dead fuels close to the forest floor while leaving mature trees alive and healthy. However, whether or not these prescribed fires harm salamanders is unknown. This habitat provides the cool and moist conditions necessary for their survival. Fire on the forest floor definitely changes their habitat.
Fire can change the temperature, moisture, pH, and nutrient levels of the soil.
Fire also changes the structure of down woody debris and leaf litter that the salamanders use as habitat. Changes in their habitat structure may also be detrimental to salamanders. These possible impacts caused by a prescribed burn are certainly less severe than those impacts that would occur from a high intensity wildfire. Also, many plants and animals that live in fire regulated forests have evolved adaptations to this disturbance. For example salamanders may be able to simply retreat deeper into the ground to avoid the heat of a fire.