WHAT IS PRESCRIBED FIRE?
Prescribed fire, or controlled burning, is the planned, skilled application of fire at the right time and the right place to meet specific objectives.
Prescribed fire is…
A tool for resilience.
Particularly in the dry forests and grasslands of Eastern Washington, our landscapes evolved with and depend on fire to maintain their ecological structure and function. Much of this region historically experienced frequent, low intensity fires lit by lightning or local indigenous people.
Over a century of fire suppression policies dramatically altered these fire-adapted ecosystems. Fuel build-up in the absence of fire, paired with changing climatic conditions, has set the scene for larger, more severe wildfires.
Prescribed burning allows us to bring fire back to this landscape safely, allowing it to serve its ecological function and help protect our communities from devastating wildfire.
A tool that has been used for millennia.
Prescribed fire is…
Indigenous peoples have used fire for thousands of years to steward Pacific Northwest landscapes. Fire was and is used to promote certain plant & animal species, open areas for crops or hunting, and maintain ecological diversity. Many plants and ecosystems are “fire-adapted” today because they evolved with indigenous fire usage.
Today, cultural burning remains an important practice of many Pacific Northwest Tribes. We acknowledge—and have much to learn from—the knowledge and traditions of these communities.
Prescribed fire is…
Planned with care.
Managing land with fire carries inherent risk, but we have many tools at our disposal to mitigate that risk. In fact, prescribed fire practitioners are so good at managing risk that about 99% of prescribed fires go as planned—and of burns that escape, only a tiny fraction result in property damage or injury.
Risks are mitigated by choosing appropriate weather conditions (wind, humidity, temperature), involving skilled personnel, ensuring that sufficient resources are on site, having clear contingency and medical plans, and maintaining communication with neighbors and officials.
At the end of the day, we can opt for the risks of prescribed fire, or the risks of taking no action, leaving our forests and communities vulnerable to catastrophic wildfire. We think the choice is clear.
Prescribed fire is…
Fun!
The best way to learn about prescribed fire is to see one firsthand. Folks often reflect on their first burn experience with comments like “I can't believe how truly controlled it was” and “it was so fascinating to watch fire do its thing”.
Join the Mt. Adams PBA email list to be notified of upcoming opportunities to observe or participate in prescribed burns.