Wildfire affects the health and well-being of people, yet the science behind its management grapples with uncertainties that have led to sometimes contentious scientific debate. Diverging views over how “natural” high-severity fire is in dry conifer forests across the western U.S have created some impediments to effectively integrating science into policy and management decisions. Such debates have sometimes promoted inaction, an inadequate solution for a sustainable coexistence between people and wildfire, especially given the growing threat of climate change. This working group sought to identify, and partly explain, areas of common ground and divergence among fire researchers, focusing specifically on dry conifer forests. Their work is in support of informing high quality public discourse, policy, and management.