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Wildfire Severity Reduction Through Prescribed Burning in the Southeastern United States

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  • C. Wade Ross

    (Tall Timbers, Tallahassee, FL 32312, USA
    United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Athens, GA 30602, USA
    First Street, 777 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10017, USA)

  • E. Louise Loudermilk

    (United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Athens, GA 30602, USA)

  • Steven A. Flanagan

    (United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Athens, GA 30602, USA)

  • Grant Snitker

    (New Mexico Consortium, 800 Bradbury Dr SE, Suite 213, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA)

  • J. Kevin Hiers

    (Natural Resources Institute, Texas A&M University, Washington, DC 20036, USA)

  • Joseph J. O’Brien

    (United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Athens, GA 30602, USA)

Abstract

With wildfires becoming more frequent and severe in fire-prone regions affected by warmer and drier climate conditions, reducing hazardous fuels is increasingly recognized as a preventative strategy for promoting sustainability and safeguarding valued resources. Prescribed fire is one of the most cost-effective methods for reducing hazardous fuels and hence wildfire severity, yet empirical research on its effectiveness at minimizing damage to highly valued resources and assets (HVRAs) remains limited. The overarching objective of this study was to evaluate wildfire severity under differing weather conditions across various HVRAs characterized by diverse land uses, vegetation types, and treatment histories. The findings from this study reveal that wildfire severity was generally lower in areas treated with prescribed fire, although the significance of this effect varied among HVRAs and diminished as post-treatment duration increased. The wildland–urban interface experienced the greatest initial reduction in wildfire severity following prescribed fire, but burn severity increased more rapidly over time relative to other HVRAs. Elevated drought conditions had a significant effect, increasing wildfire severity across all HVRAs. The implications of this study underscore the role of prescribed fire in promoting sustainable land management by reducing wildfire severity and safeguarding both natural and built environments, particularly in the expanding wildland–urban interface.

Suggested Citation

  • C. Wade Ross & E. Louise Loudermilk & Steven A. Flanagan & Grant Snitker & J. Kevin Hiers & Joseph J. O’Brien, 2025. "Wildfire Severity Reduction Through Prescribed Burning in the Southeastern United States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:13:p:6230-:d:1696635
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cathy Smith & Ol Perkins & Jayalaxshmi Mistry, 2022. "Global decline in subsistence-oriented and smallholder fire use," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 5(6), pages 542-551, June.
    2. Susete Marques & Marco Marto & Vladimir Bushenkov & Marc McDill & JoséG. Borges, 2017. "Addressing Wildfire Risk in Forest Management Planning with Multiple Criteria Decision Making Methods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-17, February.
    3. Constanza Gonzalez-Mathiesen, 2024. "Challenges in Developing Wildfire Understanding from Wildfire Information through Spatial Planning Processes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-27, January.
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