How does fire promote forest health?

For the last century, the United States has maintained a policy of excluding fires from forests, quickly suppressing fires to prevent them from spreading. Though this minimized the damage from wildfires on our communities, the policy created conditions for even more severe wildfires, some of which we are witnessing today.

Check out the web story below describing the history of wildfire in the United States, how trees have been affected and what the future of fire management and forest health look like. Find out what we are doing to restore forests now and reduce the risk of devastating wildfires in the future.

More on wildfire
Innovative Prescribed Fire Training Comes to NE Washington for First Time
Innovative Prescribed Fire Training Comes to NE Washington for First Time

The Northeast Washington TREX brings participants into a collaborative environment designed to increase shared stewardship and learning across agencies.

Prescribed-Fire Training Tackles Forest Health, Community Protection
Prescribed-Fire Training Tackles Forest Health, Community Protection

Unlike the large wildfires burning across the West this summer, these are intentionally set fires designed to protect communities and restore forests.

Congress Commits to Solution to Wildfire Funding
Congress Commits to Solution to Wildfire Funding

The federal government will now be able to use disaster relief dollars to pay for fighting catastrophic wildfires, which will fund wildfire suppression like other natural disasters.

How does fire promote forest health?
How does fire promote forest health?

What can trees tell us about wildfire and healthy forests? Check out our web story to find out!

Controlled Burn Planned for Roslyn Forest Health and Safety
Controlled Burn Planned for Roslyn Forest Health and Safety

A controlled burn on private forest land that is designed to protect the town of Roslyn and improve forest health is being planned for the week of Oct. 2 as part of a fire learning exchange in North Central Washington.

New Training to Expand 'Good Fire' Use Across State, Protect Communities​​​​​​​
New Training to Expand 'Good Fire' Use Across State, Protect Communities​​​​​​​

Controlled burning, is a time-tested and effective tool that maximizes the benefits that low-intensity fire can provide within a variety of landscapes.

After the fire: Assessing burned lands
After the fire: Assessing burned lands

Devastating fires continue to burn across our state. But we’ve now had our first look at roughly 1,800 acres of Nature Conservancy land that burned in the Jolly Mountain Fire

Fires Flow Across the Central Cascades, and the West
Fires Flow Across the Central Cascades, and the West

With fires raging across the state, our first concern right now is the safety of people, including our staff, community members and firefighters.

2.7M Acres of Forest Need Treatment: How Do We Accomplish That?
2.7M Acres of Forest Need Treatment: How Do We Accomplish That?

Learn how we are setting the stage for healthier forests and safer, more economically vibrant communities. 

Discovering Fire in our Forests
Discovering Fire in our Forests

Banner photo by Slantyhouse Productions.

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