The results of a survey from 1985 to 1994 of the USDA Forest Service's National Forest System prescribed burning activity and costs are examined. Fuels management officers from 95 National Forests reported costs and acreage burned for 4 types of prescribed fire, including slash reduction, management-ignited fires, prescribed natural fires, and brush, grass, and rangeland burns, and rated the relative importance of 9 resource enhancement targets and 12 factors influencing burning costs. Substantial differences were found in per acre costs and cost variability by burn type, National Forest Regions, and resource target mix. Planning costs were estimated to be about 25 percent of total costs in most regions. Unit size, labor availability, escape fire safeguards, and environmental restrictions were the most important cost influences, but these varied by region. Data limitations suggest the need for a uniform, comprehensive system of data collection on prescribed burning activity and costs.
