Light Burning is “Piute Forestry” by Another Name

Description

In the early 20th century, there was an intense controversy over systematic “light burning, the practice of using cool fire as a management tool (similar to what we call prescribed fires today). These practices for fire control were highly debated before fire suppression policies overwhelmingly prevailed.

In this paper from 1920, Greeley (USFS chief) argued that “light burning” was just “Piute Forestry,” primitive, impossible to control and a destructive path to valueless shrubland.