Prescribed fire application can be a simple process, though many days call for special techniques or equipment.  Unfortunately, a fear of fire or a fear of the consequences of an escape prevent many landowners from using controlled burns on their land.  This is a sad situation, as fire remains one of the most cost-effective tools to managing many types of forest and grass communities.  For simplicity, WFE breaks down burning operations into the following categories:

• Understory Hazard Reduction:  Generally used in the dormant season when temperatures are low.  Used predominantly in pine forests to reduce fuel loads and increase herbaceous plant capture.
• Silviculture Burns:  Growing season burns aimed at reducing young regeneration in mature or semi-mature timber.  Can be used on well-established upland hardwood stands to produce savanna effects.
• Native Grass/Range Management:  Used to "open up" native grass stands and reduce woody competition in pastures or piedmont prairies.  Usually from Feb - May, but can be done any month.
• Site Preparation - Logging Debris Removal:  Burning to remove logging slash or deck piles in order to prepare a cutover for planting.  Summer burns are more effective in reducing future hardwood regeneration and killing any volunteer pine seedlings.
• Thatch Removal:  Used to remove grass residue from a pasture/hayfield that has been sprayed with herbicide prior to seeding native grasses.  Generally can be done without fireline installations.
• Wildlife Burns:  Typically used to set-back succession in older cutovers or in mixed-aged stands.