Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Pd 8
Wildfires are misconceived as dangerous and disastrous. In reality, not all wildfires are
the case. According to the National Park Service, “Prescribed fire is a planned fire; and is used to
meet management objectives. A prescription is a set of conditions that considers the safety of the
public and fire staff, weather, and probability of meeting the burn objectives.” If done with
Prescribed fires aren’t just a modern day practice. In fact, they have been executed by
early Native Americans and continue to benefit people and the environment in many ways.
disease in plants and creates open land for grazing and feeding. Controlled fires are also
beneficial because they control competing vegetation that take up space for wanted plants.
Because the vegetation is more controlled, these habitats are prepared for seeding and planting
(Bargeron, n.d.).
Although there are some benefits, prescribed fires are very risky, and can do more bad
than good if spread out of control. Depending on the site, some areas are more difficult to control
than others, thus turning prescribed fires into normal wildfires that cause mass destruction
(USDA, n.d.). Some areas are easier to maintain than others, but in the end, any kind of fire has a
chance of losing control. Not only is fire hard to control, prescribed fires require professionals in
Restoration says, “Permitting, planning and notifications must be completed prior to conducting
a prescription burn”, so there are extensive measures taken in order to execute the prescribed
fires as safe as possible (Tallgrass Restoration. (n.d.). Also, fire may be known for destruction,
however, planned fires protect local communities from wildfires because they clear out dead
plants that may take a long time to decompose (U.S Department of the Interior. (n.d.). Prescribed
fires must be controlled by professionals, so there are programs that allow such crucial training.
According to the National Interagency Prescribed Fire Training Center (PFTC), “PFTC is a
unique program blending maximum field prescribed burning experience with a flexible
PFTC can train anyone to control fires, so there isn’t such a high demand for such specialized
people.
Despite the minimal dangers, there are so many more benefits of prescribed fires.
Prescribed fires benefit wildlife and their homes, help maintain and beautify the environment,
and allow future growth of plants. If Prescribed fires are implemented, there is potential for a
Heumann, B. (2009, September 08). Controlled Burns: Are They Worth It? Retrieved March
23, 2018, from https://blog.nature.org/conservancy/2009/09/08/controlled-burning-is-it-
worth-it/
National Interagency Prescribed Fire Training Center. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2018, from
https://www.fws.gov/fire/pftc/
Tallgrass Restoration. (n.d.). We Use Prescribed Burns to Clear Invaders and Restore
Diversity. Retrieved March 23, 2018, from
https://www.tallgrassrestoration.com/ourservices/prescribedburns
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2018, from
https://www.blm.gov/or/resources/fire/prescribedburns/burn_bkgrnd.php