Videos Archives | Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project Archive

Prescribed Fire Planning

Restoring our dry, fire-adapted forests in Central Oregon is a multi-step process carried out over many years and requiring collaboration among a diverse team of forest scientists, fire experts, loggers, community leaders, and volunteers. Prescribed fire, also known as prescribed or controlled burning, is the final step in the forest restoration process, and a crucial…

Once the initial forest restoration steps have been completed, and the forest is ready for prescribed fire, now it’s time to organize the many fire professionals and equipment needed to safely conduct a prescribed burn. The Burn Boss oversees all aspects of the prescribed fire, from writing the prescribed burn plan that describes every detail…

Today’s the day! The staging area is bustling with activity. Fire engines, water tenders, and fire professionals begin to assemble. The Burn Boss, hard at work since early in the morning, finalizes burn day preparations, confirming conditions in the forest, weather, smoke dispersion forecasts, and relaying plans to forest managers, fire personnel, and the public…

Once the ignitions crews have worked their way across the prescribed burn unit and holding crews have secured the perimeter, the Burn Boss notifies fire dispatch that the prescribed fire is completed. But what happens after the fire? How do fire professionals make sure everything remains under control after a prescribed fire is completed? The…