Those who manage forested lands in the Northern Rockies seek to reduce the fire hazard to communities, including our human, wildlife, and vegetative communities. While recognizing the historical role of fire in our various forest types, we also recognize that more than a century of fire exclusion and fire suppression has led to excessive fuel loads and ladder fuels, especially in our lower elevation forests. By reducing fuels through thinning and the use of prescribed fire, we hope to avoid stand-replacing fires that place our homes and old-growth forests in jeopardy.