What is prescribed fire?
Prescribed fire is a tool that can help restore natural landscapes and maintain healthy habitats to benefit people and native wildlife and plants. Prescribed fire is a planned fire set intentionally by natural resource professionals to achieve management goals. During a prescribed fire, highly trained staff use special equipment to light and control a fire in a designated area. This is different from a wildfire, which is an unplanned fire caused by lightning or other natural causes, by accidental (or arson caused) human ignitions, or by an escaped prescribed fire.
Where and when will prescribed fires be conducted this season?
Review this list of sites where MassWildlife will be conducting prescribed fires this season. Most burns take place in spring and fall but can occur any time of year when the conditions are right. Exact timing and location of prescribed fires are subject to change, depending on weather conditions and other factors.
How is a site selected for prescribed fire?
Sites are chosen based on wildlife management and habitat restoration goals, the environmental and land use setting, and feasibility. Several natural communities in Massachusetts have evolved with fire on the landscape. These communities have declined as fire had been excluded for over 100 years. Many animals and plants protected by the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA) rely on fire-influenced habitats to survive. Prescribed fires may occur in areas where rare animals and plants can be promoted. MassWildlife mainly uses prescribed fire on MassWildlife managed land and does not provide prescribed fire services to private landowners. Learn about MassWildlife's Habitat Management Grant Program that provides assistance to private and municipal owners of protected lands to enhance wildlife habitat.
When is prescribed fire used in habitat management?
Several tools help create, restore, and maintain a diversity of habitats for animals and plants as identified in the Commonwealth’s State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP). These include wood product harvest, mowing and mulching, invasive plant management, and prescribed fire. Prescribed fire is often used for continued management, after initial restoration is completed.
Why is prescribed fire used in habitat management?
The use of prescribed fire in habitat management is common. It is used by private landowners, non-profits and state and federal agencies. Fire is needed to sustain biodiversity and maintain a wide range of healthy wildlife habitats. Fire has many benefits such as enhancing germination of certain plants, increasing acorn and nut production, promoting berry productivity, controlling invasive plants, improving soil quality, promoting reproduction of desirable tree species, and reducing ticks and other pests.
Are prescribed fires safe for nearby residents and their homes?
Yes. A prescribed burn plan developed by a qualified burn boss must be in place before a burn occurs. Firebreaks and other site preparations are made to contain the prescribed fire. Fire behavior, fuels, and weather are monitored throughout the burn. The fire will be shut down if conditions exceed the set parameters. Permits are required from the town fire chief and the regional office of DEP’s Air Quality Section. The burn is carried out by a skilled crew under the direction of a qualified burn boss. Smoke is managed during the prescribed fire, but if you live nearby a burn site, you may see or smell smoke. At the end of day, all fires are extinguished but there may be residual smoke the next day. Following a prescribed fire, MassWildlife or the Department of Conservation and Recreation monitors the site until it’s officially declared out. It’s estimated that over 99% of all prescribed fires go as planned. Even so, all prescribed fire plans have a detailed contingency plan involving local fire departments to suppress any escaped fire and protect nearby communities.
Who conducts prescribed fires on MassWildlife land? What type of training is required?
All MassWildlife prescribed fire staff are required to maintain specific certifications. To achieve these certifications, staff attend formal trainings and classes. Other qualified partners, such as employees of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), local fire departments, and other partners may also participate in prescribed fires on MassWildlife managed land. Learn more about training qualifications in the Prescribed Fire Management Handbook.
How will I know if a prescribed fire is happening in my area?
Review this list of sites where MassWildlife will be conducting prescribed fires this season. Sometimes local fire departments post notices to social media or reverse 9-1-1. The day of the burn, “Prescribed Burn Ahead” signs are posted in the parking area. Some sections of the Wildlife Management Area may be temporarily closed that day to ensure the safety of the public. If you see signs of prescribed fire activity, we recommend waiting to visit the Wildlife Management Area until the following day.
How do rare animals and plants benefit from prescribed fire?
About 40% of all plants and animals listed under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act benefit from the conditions created and maintained by fire. New England blazing star, American chaffseed, purple milkweed, grasshopper sparrow, and frosted elfin butterfly are just a few of the rare species that benefit from prescribed fires. Check out this story of a rare moth that reappeared after the reintroduction of fire at Muddy Brook Wildlife Management Area.
How do common animals and game species benefit from prescribed fire?
Prescribed fire improves habitat for many game species, including ruffed grouse, wild turkey, and American woodcock. White-tailed deer, black bear, squirrels, and rabbits also benefit from the increase in fruit, mast, and browse created after periodic fires. Prescribed fire helps create diversity in vegetation structure which provides animals the variety of habitat characteristics needed for different parts of their life (e.g., breeding, nesting, brooding, cover, feeding, etc.).
How do native plants benefit from prescribed fire?
Prescribed fire helps control invasive plants, pathogens, and pests that can threaten native species. Additionally, fire clears thatch, exposing soil for seed germination. Following a prescribed fire, the above ground portion of many tree seedlings, saplings, and shrubs are “top-killed” by the flames. Trees well-adapted to fire, such as oaks, hickories, and pitch pine, quickly resprout or resist damage with their thick bark. Other plants, like red maple, white pine, and many invasives, are less able to rebound. Fire also helps create and maintain openings in the canopy that allow light to reach the ground where wildflowers, grasses, and other important food and pollinator plants can flourish.
Many wildflowers (like the New England blazing star pictured above), grasses, and shrubs are uniquely fire adapted and will remain dormant until flames remove thatch and expose bare soil. Some plants, such as wild lupine, require the heat of passing fire to crack their seed coat . Other plants, like orchids, benefit from the improved soil conditions created by fire. These fire-loving plants depend on the predictable and safe return of fire in certain places.
How do people benefit from prescribed fire?
If fire is excluded from an area, there can be a buildup of flammable vegetation. If a fire were to be sparked by a natural occurrence (i.e. lightning) or by people, the wildfire could spread more quickly and intensely, becoming a hazard to people and their property. Periodic prescribed fire consumes the dead vegetation, preventing the buildup of flammable material and increasing public safety. Prescribed fires also provide an opportunity for other state agency staff and local fire departments to learn about wildland fire behavior and gain wildland firefighter training.
People also benefit from the increase in local, consumable natural resources produced by periodic prescribed fire. In addition to improving habitat for game species that provide healthy protein to residents across Massachusetts, prescribed fires can increase berry and nut production on wildlife management areas for the public to forage.
What do animals do during a prescribed fire?
Most animals found in fire-affected habitats know how to stay safe during a fire. They will fly away, climb trees, burrow, or retreat to nearby areas. Occasionally, individual animals will perish from prescribed fire. While this loss is unfortunate, fire is a natural process and remains essential to the survival and reproduction of many rare animals and plants in Massachusetts.
How can I learn more about prescribed fire?
Visit the additional resources below to learn more about how prescribed fire is used to create and maintain healthy habitats in Massachusetts.