Fighting Fire with “Good Fire”

Video Resources to Promote Prescribed Burning and the Restoration of Natural, Beneficial Fire Regimes

Wildfires have increasingly threatened communities in California and the West, highlighting the urgent need for proactive fire management. We’re excited to share educational videos of our large-scale prescribed burn project on the McCloud Soda Springs Working Forest in Siskiyou County. These videos cover the preparation, execution, and early results of this burn, demonstrating how controlled fires can mitigate the impacts of wildfires.

The 1,346-acre Schroll Timberlands property, adjacent to the town of McCloud, has undergone various treatments to improve wildlife habitats and forest health. With a grant from the Wildlife Conservation Board, PFT recently completed a major prescribed burn— the largest on private forestland in over 20 years. This burn, part of an ongoing effort, aims to restore a climate-resilient forest and reduce wildfire risk. We hope these videos will educate and inspire other forest owners and foresters to use prescribed burns to promote healthy, fire-adapted forests and enhance community safety. Special thanks to CAL FIRE for supporting this educational initiative.

Giving Fire Back to the Forests: Prescribed Burning 101 on McCloud Soda Springs

Here is the full-length video—roughly 20 minutes—that details the benefits, techniques, and results of our prescribed burn on the Northern California Property.

Giving Fire Back to the Forests: Prescribed Burning 101 on McCloud Soda Springs

Looking to start by sharing an overview version? Here’s the above video, condensed into approximately four minutes!

How to Conduct a Successful Prescribed Burn

In this short, you will hear from the experts—burn bosses, CALFIRE, foresters, and otheres—on the steps needed to actually prepare for and execute a prescribed burn.

Why Underburn in Commercial Forests?

And, in this short, you will get acquainted with the technique of “underburning,” which targets lower vegetation like grasses and shrubs while protecting larger trees. It reduces forest floor debris, helping to prevent severe wildfires, improve wildlife habitats, and enhance overall forest health.