Prescribed fires can be implemented as a tool to meet resource objectives, such as for wildlife habitat enhancement, forage production, and fuel reduction.

Impacts described above in Section 4.3.1 Wildfire for wildland fires would apply to prescribed fires. Prescribed fires, a type of wildland fire, include any fire intentionally ignited by management under an approved plan to meet specific objectives. Restrictions on fire management techniques and equipment would apply to the management and control of prescribed fires. This section describes only impacts specific to managing prescribed fires. Prescribed fire that has exceeded, or is expected to exceed, prescription parameters or otherwise meets the criteria for conversion to wildfire is considered an escaped prescribed fire. This may occur when a prescribed fire burns out of control or moves outside established fire lines due to wind or other factors; under these circumstances, the escaped prescribed fire is classified as a wildfire.

Direct impacts to prescribed fire include restrictions or stipulations from other resources prohibiting or limiting prescribed fires in certain areas or at certain times of the year. Prescribed fire can result in short-term adverse impacts associated with the actual fire event. However, prescribed fire reduces fuel loads and the potential for larger-scale catastrophic fires and aids in the achievement of vegetation and resource objectives. This typically results in long-term beneficial impacts to resources and ecosystems.