Prescribed Fire

Overview

Prescribed fire is a low‑cost tool that resets plant succession, removes litter, releases nutrients, and stimulates grasses, forbs, and fruiting shrubs—creating the open, diverse groundcover preferred by many declining wildlife species. Restoration burns should be introduced cautiously in stands with heavy duff; maintenance burns keep fire‑adapted communities productive.

Fire has shaped the natural landscape of North Carolina throughout history. Written accounts from early explorers document expansive areas of grassland with widely-spaced trees covering much of the state. Whether ignited by lightning or Native Americans, this “Grand Savannah” would not have occurred without fire. Grasslands would have likely burned every 2 to 3 years while pocosins, Carolina Bays, mountain coves, riparian areas, and marshes would have burned with less regularity. Fire has certainly formed many of North Carolina’s natural features, but several hundred years of fire suppression has impacted what we consider the “natural landscape” of North Carolina today. Today, prescribed burning is used by resource managers to mimic historic burns to promote a more diverse ecosystem. 

Prescribed burning is likely the most economical wildlife management tool for managing pine stands. Burning effectively top-kills woody sprouts thereby promoting stump sprouting and providing lush browse for species such as whitetail deer. Burning also removes the accumulated needles and leaves from the forest floor which suppress herbaceous ground cover. Fire plays an important role in the soil nutrient cycle and is required for the natural regeneration of some tree species such as pond pine, table mountain pine, and longleaf pine.     

  • Much as medication is prescribed in specific doses to get the desired outcome, fire can be prescribed to meet specific wildlife habitat management goals. Two criteria that must be addressed as part of a burning prescription are frequency and intensity. Maintaining quality herbaceous groundcover will require burns at least every 2 or 3 years to suppress woody growth. Quality woody growth can be best managed for browse and cover by burning every 3 to 5 years. Contrary to logic, a slow moving, low intensity fire can effectively top-kill woody growth as it holds heat around the stem for a longer period of time. Burning during the spring or summer growing season typically controls woody species and promotes herbaceous groundcover. While burning is a great management tool, the effectiveness of burning depends on the amount of sunlight reaching the forest floor. Therefore, thinning and other tree removal practices are critical compliments to developing quality wildlife habitat.  
  • Firelines or firebreaks are needed to contain prescribed burns. When possible, natural or permanent man-made features should be used as firelines.  Creeks, lakes, roads, or field edges can all serve as a barrier to limit the spread of fire. When firelines must be installed, avoid deeply plowed lines which can channel water and cause erosion. In riparian zones and where fuels will allow, install firelines with hand tools.  When heavy equipment must be used, lines should not be plowed but rather bladed. Firelines should be wide enough to provide access for you to enjoy your property. Water bars and other water diversions should be installed to reduce erosion. Firelines should be seeded with grains and legumes to stabilize soils and provide a food source for wildlife. 

Where This Practice Applies

  • Pine forests
  • Native grasslands
  • Old fields
  • Savannas
  • Glades

Species That Benefit

Benefits to Wildlife

  • Increases forb diversity and seed availability for quail and songbirds.
  • Improves quality of browse for deer and turkey broods.
  • Maintains open midstory in pine stands, enhancing visibility for turkeys.

How It Works

Fire removes the litter layer that smothers seeds and impedes movement, exposes seeds to foraging wildlife, and increases nutrient availability for resprouting vegetation, which improves browse quality and insect production.

Step‑by‑Step Instructions

  1. Plan burn blocks (≈5–50 acres) in a checkerboard pattern to intersperse food and cover.
  2. Install permanent fire lines (bladed, ≥10 ft) that can be maintained with farm equipment.
  3. Select the window (late winter/early spring for quick cover return; growing season for hardwood control).
  4. Conduct the burn under safe conditions with trained personnel; keep smoke management in mind.
  5. Repeat on rotation; vary timing to maintain plant diversity.

When to Use This Practice

  • Rotation: Every 1–2 years for quail and many grassland birds; 2–4 years for deer and turkeys.
  • Timing: Late winter/early spring burns minimize the period without cover; growing‑season burns are useful for hardwood control in stands with light to moderate fuels; late summer/fall burns increase open ground and the forb component in grasslands. Use care with late‑season burns in pine forests.

Safety & Special Considerations

  • Use experienced burners
  • Manage smoke
  • Prepare lines before burning
  • Consult the NC Prescribed Fire Council resources for safe, effective burning

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Introducing fire too aggressively in fire‑suppressed stands with deep duff, causing overstory mortality.
  • Burning large areas without leaving dense cover patches for bedding or escape.
  • Burning too early in winter, leaving sites bare of cover for months.

Additional Resources

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