Controlled Burns: Safely Clearing Forest Hazards and Promoting Regeneration

Controlled burns are intentionally set fires conducted by professionals in the Forest Service to safely clear out hazardous wildfire fuel and promote forest rejuvenation. Scheduled during favorable weather conditions, these burns not only clear away old and decaying foliage but also add nutrients to the soil and allow sunlight to reach younger trees, enabling new flora to grow and thrive. Additionally, certain plant species actually require fire to reproduce, making controlled burns a natural form of rejuvenation for forests.