What Is Pile Burning?

Pile burning is a form of prescribed fire in which branches, limbs, and other woody debris (known as “slash”) left over after forest thinning or fuel reduction projects are gathered into piles and intentionally burned under carefully controlled conditions during favorable weather.

Why It’s Done:

• Reduce wildfire risk: Excess debris on forest floors can act as “fuel,” enabling unplanned wildfires to grow hotter and spread more quickly. Reducing this fuel through pile burns lowers the potential for catastrophic fires near communities and infrastructure.

• Improve forest resilience: Regularly removing dense undergrowth and dead wood helps forests become more resilient by mimicking natural fire cycles that historically maintained healthy forest structure.

• Support ecosystem health: Fuel reduction helps maintain ecosystem function and can improve conditions for native plant and animal species, as well as reduce the severity of future wildfires that could harm soils, watersheds, and wildlife habitat.

How It’s Done Safely:
Forest crews only ignite piles when specific conditions — such as favorable winds, adequate snow cover, and good smoke dispersal — are present to help contain the burn and minimize risk to nearby areas. Smoke permits, air quality monitoring, and trained firefighters are part of the process. 

Learn more about pile burning by watching this informative video: