The mission of the Oregon Prescribed Fire Council is to collaboratively promote and conserve the fire adapted natural ecosystems in Oregon and expand the responsible use of prescribed fire. ​

Firefighters in the forests of the Fremont-Winema National Forest

Prescribed fire, sometimes referred to as a “controlled burn,” is a term used to describe fires set by land managers in order to achieve some management goal. Prescription refers to the different management techniques that are proposed  by a land manager. Because fire behavior is dependent on fuels, weather, and topography, prescribed fire enables land managers to manage fuels in a situation where weather and topography are predictable. However, prescribed fire is not a one-time treatment: it is often used periodically and in conjunction with other management practices such as mechanical thinning and herbicides.