Familiar characters like Smokey the Bear have taught us to prevent forest fires at all costs. With the current drought conditions in the state, it's true that acres of forest and open fields could potentially burn quickly if weather conditions are right and the correct amount of fuel is present. However, there are natural communities in the forest that count on periodic fires to survive. Large wildfires in New England as a whole rarely occur. Compared to forest fires in the more volatile fuels of the southern and western sections of the country, New Hampshire's wildland fires tend to be small and rapidly suppressed.
Fires are a primary, natural disturbance in many ecosystems.
The decision to let a fire burn can benefit wildlife, maintain certain vegetative types, and help improve forage or even recreation. A successful prescribed burning program will permit fire and can help encourage and maintain components of bio-diversity which might otherwise be lost. Recently, fire management plans have been developed for several state lands here in New Hampshire. These prescribed fires take place without threatening human life, property or resources while at the same time meeting the objectives of the N.H. Division of Forests and Lands to demonstrate sound forest management practices. Burn projects occur when it's the best option to manage open spaces, boost recreation possibilities in an area, increase productivity of soft mast like blueberry, control insects, establish desired tree seedlings or even maintain a view for hikers.