To understand which documents are necessary for burn planning, you must first determine the type of burn you will be conducting. The Conservancy categorizes broadcast burns into four types, explained below. Non-broadcast burns are discussed at the bottom of the page.

Some broadcast burns will fall into more than one category, but you should choose the primary burn category to determine planning requirements.

The Site Fire Management Plan and Wildfire Response Plan may be waived by the Fire Manager in writing if there is sufficient justification. See Fire Management Guidelines. The Prescribed Burn Unit Plan and Review of Laws and Regulations may not be waived under any circumstances for a broadcast burn.

Ecological Management Burns: These are burns conducted to meet stated ecological management or restoration objectives and goals. They are conducted when there is sufficient information available to be confident that fire will benefit priority species, communities, or landscapes, even though certain fire effects may not be well-documented or understood. Monitoring is required to gauge the attainment of management goals and to assess the need to modify the fire regime or undertake research. A Site Fire Management Plan must be in place before ecological management burns are conducted. A Fire Manager may waive this requirement if justification is given in the Prescribed Burn Unit Plan. See

Planning documents for an ecological management burn are:

• Site Fire Management Plan
• Monitoring Plan or Procedure
• Prescribed Burn Unit Plan
• Review of Laws and Regulations
• Wildfire Response Plan

Research Burns: These are burns conducted as part of research projects. Such projects are usually designed to test hypotheses regarding the effects of fire on priority conservation targets. Research burns require a Research Proposal in lieu of some of the other planning documents. The Research Proposal may be included in the Site Fire Management Plan.

Planning documents for a research burn are:

• Research Plan
• Prescribed Burn Unit Plan
• Review of Laws and Regulations
• Wildfire Response Plan

Hazard Reduction Burns: Hazard reduction burns are usually conducted for one of three purposes: 1) to reduce the possibility of wildfire damage to buildings or other structures or cultural resources located on TNC preserves; 2) to prevent wildfires of any origin from burning fire-sensitive areas on or adjacent to TNC lands; or 3) to protect fire-sensitive priority species or communities that could be adversely affected by wildfires originating in nearby hazardous fuels.

Planning documents for a hazard reduction burn are:

• Prescribed Burn Unit Plan
• Review of Laws and Regulations
• Wildfire Response Plan

Training Burns: These are burns conducted for the purpose of training Conservancy staff and cooperators in prescribed burning techniques. If their sole purpose is training, they are generally low-complexity burns conducted in areas lacking specific ecological management goals, such as old fields or other disturbed areas that may exist on Conservancy preserves.

Planning documents for a training burn are:

• Prescribed Burn Unit Plan
• Review of Laws and Regulations
• Wildfire Response Plan

Non-broadcast burning, such as burning debris piles, old structures, or irrigation ditches, require a plan. The complexity and format for the plan will be decided based on the conditions. The Fire Manager has the authority to determine the type of plan necessary, and also approves the final plan. Every non-broadcast burn must be preceded by a Non-Broadcast Burn Go/No-go Checklist. See Non-Broadcast Burns for complete information.

Last updated April 15, 2007