Just as fire was a significant force in shaping the American landscape for thousands of years, fire is essential to the restoration of natural areas. Fire contributed as much to the development of our rich mosaic of prairies, woodlands, forests, and wetlands as did wind, rain, and snow. Whether ignited by lightning or purposely set by Native Americans, it shaped plant and animal communities that are dependent upon fire for survival. Today’s prescribed fire simply continues a necessary process that nature started thousands of years ago.

A prescribed fire is the most cost effective form of natural area stewardship. It is the ideal solution to control invasive species, stimulate the growth of native plants, reduce woody growth, and increase plant and animal diversity. But prescribed fire must be performed by highly trained and experienced personnel who are intimately familiar with the existing site conditions. A poorly planned or executed prescribed fire can cause significant environmental and property damage.

Pizzo gives each site a specific prescription, taking into account the site ecology, time of year, wind direction, relative humidity, and the number of crew members and amount of equipment that will be required to execute the fire safely and effectively. Our highly trained crews and supervisors have extensive practical experience working with your local agencies. They are certified in the S130/S190/S290 sections of wildland fire training and are equipped with clothing and equipment that meet the National Wildfire Coordination Group (NWCG) standards. All prescribed fires are conducted with permits from your state’s environmental protection agencies and the local fire department. Local fire and police departments are contacted prior to, during, and after the fire. We provide written notification to commercial and residential addresses adjacent to the burn site when required.