The fact that loggers carelessly ignited most of these fires had little sway on public opinion. The Government policy, then, generally called for fires to be suppressed, despite the fact that as early as 1933 research was showing the absolute necessity of periodic fire for ecosystem health. Yet despite determined efforts over the years to suppress naturally ignited fires, wildfires have become more numerous, severe and difficult to control. Wildland fire experts contend that this is the inevitable result of well-intended but misguided fire suppression efforts, which consequently have created vast tinderboxes in many parts of the West. Fire ecologists say they expect many more seasons of severe wildfires because there are millions of acres that have been affected by our management actions that have not yet burned.
Managers can intervene and begin restoring the natural fire regime.
Prescribed fire is a technique by which land managers intentionally set fires in specific areas under very carefully controlled conditions to restore the natural benefits of fire to the nation's wild lands. Such fires are started by trained firefighters in areas that the local fire management plan has identified as appropriate. Prescribed fires are allowed to burn under specific atmospheric and fuel moisture conditions to prevent fires then from becoming wildfire. While the use of prescribed burns and a policy of letting naturally occurring fires burn wherever possible have become increasingly accepted, it is the subject of debate among loggers, ranchers, environmentalists, the public and government agencies. There is wide agreement that something must be done to reduce accumulating fuels and to encourage reinstatement of a natural fire regime, but there is no consensus on what should be done.