Younger stands of chaparral are not likely to burn as hot. If there is a fire, it is more easily controlled. Healthy young plants increase wildlife habitat and forage for most species. One way to reduce the heavy accumulation of chaparral fuels is to use prescribed burning. Prescribed burning is the use of fire in a designated area to modify the vegetation under carefully specified weather conditions.
Fire provides a very natural tool to reduce the hazards of the chaparral environment.
Fire is part of the ecosystem and it needs to be managed, not excluded. Cleveland National Forest Prescribed Fire Program Historically fire has been a natural part of our ecosystem. Throughout time wildfires ignited and burned naturally through the Forest. Some fires were caused by lightning and some were intentionally started by Native Americans. The Cleveland has a climate that is characterized by low rain fall, dead and down woody fuels, long dry summers and mild temperatures.