Wildfire Severity Reduction Through Prescribed Burning in the Southeastern United States

C. Wade Ross (), E. Louise Loudermilk, Steven A. Flanagan, Grant Snitker, J. Kevin Hiers and Joseph J. O’Brien
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C. Wade Ross: Tall Timbers, Tallahassee, FL 32312, 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

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-16

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.

Keywords: burn severity; controlled burn; dNBR; fuel treatments; GAM; Landsat; MTBS; prescribed fire; sustainability; wildland fire (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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