![[design image slice] U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service on faded trees in medium light green background](/r2/blackhills/local-resources/images/rmt-trees-left-usfs.gif)
![[design image slice] more faded trees](/r2/blackhills/local-resources/images/rmt-trees-right.gif){kind=small}
Black Hills National Forest
![[design image] green box with curved corner](/r2/blackhills/local-resources/images/rmt-search-head.gif){kind=small}
![[design image] green and cream arch](/r2/blackhills/local-resources/images/rmt-arch.gif){kind=small}
Find a Forest (NF)
or Grassland (NG)
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2009 Prescribed Burns
Firefighters burn to reduce the severity and intensity of wildfires by reducing fuels that feed summer wildfires. Todd Pechota, Fire Management Officer, said burning improves overall forest health by recycling carbon and nutrients into the soil and controlling forest insects. It also increases forage for wildlife, like grass and bushes, and improves conditions for better wildlife habitat.
Prescribed fires are only lit after they meet certain weather conditions,
wind speeds, and numbers of firefighters needed for control.
Click to View Photo Slideshow of Needles Rx Burn