Research Spotlight: The Expanding Role of Prescribed Burn Associations in Fire Stewardship
Introduction
The increasing frequency and severity of wildfires across the United States underscore the urgent need for proactive fire management strategies. A growing body of research highlights the essential role of Prescribed Burn Associations (PBAs) in mitigating wildfire risks, restoring fire-adapted ecosystems, and expanding the accessibility of prescribed fire to private landowners. PBAs function as community-led initiatives, offering a collaborative model for addressing fire suppression challenges that have long hindered effective land stewardship. A recent study, Burning from the Ground Up: The Structure and Impact of Prescribed Burn Associations in the United States (Deak et al., 2025), provides a comprehensive analysis of the rise and impact of PBAs nationwide.
The Emergence and Structure of PBAs
PBAs are locally organized groups comprising landowners, conservationists, ranchers, and community members who work together to conduct prescribed burns. Utilizing a neighbors-helping-neighbors framework, these associations provide critical training, pool resources, and create safe, structured opportunities for prescribed fire application. According to Deak et al. (2025), PBAs “demonstrate a highly effective approach to overcoming barriers associated with prescribed fire, enabling broader participation in fire management beyond traditional agency-led programs.”
The study notes that PBAs have expanded rapidly, with over 140 associations now operating across the country. These groups vary in structure, with some functioning informally as cooperative efforts among landowners, while others operate with official bylaws, membership structures, and partnerships with state or federal agencies. Regardless of their format, PBAs share a common mission: to increase the use of beneficial fire while enhancing safety and knowledge among participants.
Expanding the Use of Prescribed Fire
Research findings indicate that PBAs collectively conduct over 84,000 acres of prescribed burns annually, a significant contribution to national fire management efforts. The study highlights several key impacts of PBAs, including:
Increased Access to Fire – PBAs remove financial and logistical barriers by providing shared equipment, trained personnel, and technical expertise.
Community Engagement – By fostering local participation, PBAs build fire literacy and encourage landowner involvement in fire-adapted ecosystem management.
Firefighter Training Opportunities – Many PBAs serve as informal training grounds for new fire practitioners, supplementing existing workforce development efforts.
Wildfire Risk Reduction – PBAs play a critical role in applying prescribed fire to overgrown landscapes, reducing hazardous fuel loads and mitigating extreme fire behavior.
According to Deak et al. (2025), PBAs “are effectively changing the perception of who can and should have access to fire as a management tool, broadening participation across diverse landscapes and communities.” This inclusivity is particularly significant in regions where agency-led prescribed burning is limited or logistically challenging.
The Role of the first-ever PBA in Central Oregon
In regions such as Central Oregon, PBAs are especially valuable due to the prevalence of fire-dependent ecosystems and increasing wildfire risks. Decades of fire exclusion have resulted in overstocked forests, degraded rangelands, and heightened fuel loads, making the need for prescribed burning more pressing than ever. The
Central Oregon Prescribed Burn Cooperative is working to integrate community-led fire stewardship into regional land management strategies, building local expertise and resilience.
As Deak et al. (2025) assert, “PBAs represent a modern ‘barn raising’ for fire management, embodying the principles of cooperation, knowledge-sharing, and collective stewardship.” This model is particularly relevant for Central Oregon, where collaboration among landowners, conservation organizations, and fire practitioners is essential to increasing the pace and scale of prescribed fire application.
Conclusion: The Future of Community-Led Fire Stewardship
The rapid growth of PBAs across the United States signals a transformative shift in fire management, one that places greater emphasis oncommunity participation, decentralized decision-making, and shared responsibility for fire stewardship. Research underscores the effectiveness of PBAs in increasing prescribed fire use, overcoming historical barriers, and broadening public engagement in fire-adapted landscapes.
For landowners, fire practitioners, and conservationists in Central Oregon, a PBA can offer a proven pathway to restoring the natural role of fire while reducing wildfire risks. The Central Oregon Prescribed Burn Cooperative invites all interested community members to learn more, get involved, and contribute to this growing movement.
For further details, upcoming training opportunities, and membership information, visit www.centraloregonpbc.org. Together, we can harness the power of prescribed fire to create healthier landscapes and more resilient communities.
