Fire Management
Controlled burns, firebreaks, permits, and equipment. Prescribed fire is the most powerful and most misunderstood land management tool available.
Coming Spring 2026
Prescribed Fire for Landowners: Getting Started (Coming Soon)
Why fire is good for your land, what you need to know before your first burn, and how to do it safely and legally.
Fire Management Guides
Use fire as a management tool, not a hazard. Every guide written with safety and legality as the foundation.
Getting Started
Prescribed Fire 101 for Landowners
What prescribed fire does, why it works, and the habitat benefits that make it worth the effort. The case for adding fire to your management plan.
Burn Permits and Legal Requirements by State
What your state requires, who to notify, liability considerations, and how to stay legal. The paperwork side of fire management.
Planning & Execution
How to Build and Maintain Firebreaks
Disc, plow, mow, or blade — different methods for different terrain. Firebreak width, placement, and the maintenance that keeps them functional.
Writing a Burn Plan
Weather windows, ignition patterns, crew roles, and contingency plans. The document that turns a dangerous idea into a controlled management tool.
Prescribed Fire Equipment for Small Landowners
Drip torches, backpack sprayers, flappers, and the minimum equipment needed to burn safely. What to buy and what to borrow.
Frequently Asked Questions
In most states, yes. Requirements vary — some need a simple online notification, others require a written burn plan reviewed by the state forestry division. Check with your state forestry agency or county fire department. Many states restrict burning to specific months and require neighbor notification.
Fire removes leaf litter and brush, stimulates native grass and wildflower growth, controls invasive species, improves wildlife habitat (especially for ground-nesting birds), recycles nutrients, and reduces wildfire risk. A single burn can accomplish what takes weeks of mechanical clearing with heavy equipment.
Late winter to early spring (February through April in most of the eastern US) is standard. Vegetation is dormant, humidity is moderate, and fire intensity stays manageable. Fall burns work for specific habitat goals but carry more risk. Never burn during drought or high wind regardless of season.
Fire Improves Habitat
Prescribed fire is one of the most effective habitat management tools. See how it fits into the bigger picture.
Habitat Guides →