One way that CDF protects against wildland fires is to reduce the amount of flammable vegetation on the landscape, so that any fires that do start will have less to feed on. The most effective method is prescribed burning - burning-off areas of dense brush and dry grass under controlled conditions. Prescribed burning has many other benefits, as well: it prepares the ground for seeding and planting, improves wildlife habitat, perpetuates fire-dependent species, controls disease, and returns important nutrients to the soil. By doing these prescribed burns over small areas, when the weather is not too dry or the wind too strong, the firefighters can control the size and movement of the fire, and protect surrounding trees, wildlife, and structures.

A few years ago, a landowner near Jackson requested that CDF conduct a prescribed burn of a planned golf course and residential development. The landowner had done the required environmental work for the development, including a survey of the land by professional archaeologists. These archaeologists found and recorded several prehistoric or historic-era sites, which would need to be protected during the prescribed burn. Dan Foster, the Department's lead archaeologist, first recommended that firelines be constructed around the sites, so that the fires would not sweep across them. This is in keeping with CDF's policy to avoid impacts to cultural sites whenever possible.

At one of the sites, however, this would have created an "island" of vegetation in a sea of clear ground - an island that most likely would attract attention and possibly lead to vandalism and looting of the site. Foster was convinced by CDF Forester Jim Smith to let the fire burn across the site, but only if he could conduct an experiment at the same time. The burn would be a test case to see just how much impact a small, controlled fire really could have on an archaeological resource.