Reduction of wildfire hazard: Correct timing of prescribed burning of dead vegetation in timber reduces danger of uncontrolled fires in those areas

Dangerous fire situations may be created in areas of second-growth ponderosa pine left unburned for a number of years and thereby permitting a buildup of dead shrubs, needles and other litter—the rough—as well as overpopulations of small trees. When such areas are burned by wildfire in summer, or fall, all living vegetation is apt to be killed and a poor land condition results.