Prescribed burning is used to achieve a variety of silvicultural objectives, including controlling heavy fuel accumulation, exposing mineral soil, releasing available nutrients for seedbed preparation, and controlling certain insects, diseases, and competing vegetation (Hunter 1990, Pyne et al. 1996). Prescribed burning also is an important tool for wildlife management. Prescribed fires influence amount and type of food and cover by modifying habitat structure (Leopold 1933, Komarek 1963, Wade and Lunsford 1989, Hunter 1990, Cain et al. 1998). For example, prescribed burns can be used to alter succession by killing or reducing size of hardwood understory trees and shrubs and enhancing frequency, biomass, and diversity of herbaceous vegetation (Stransky and Harlow 1981, Brockway and Lewis 1997, Cain et al. 1998). Despite a large body of knowledge concerning the use of prescribed burning for wildlife management (Lyon et al. 1978; Komarek 1981; Harlow and Van Lear 1981, 1987; Wood 1981; Hunter 1990), the responses to fire of amphibians and reptiles have received relatively little attention (Harlow and Van Lear 1981, 1987; Means and Campbell 1981; deMaynadier and Hunter 1995). Recent concerns and controversy over potentially declining amphibian populations (Pechmann and Wilbur 1994, Blaustein and Wake 1995) have increased interest in the effects of forest management practices on herpetofauna (deMaynadier and Hunter 1995). Hoping to highlight the benefits of fire for herpetofauna and to stimulate additional research, we review currently available information concerning effects of prescribed burning on amphibians and reptiles. We consider both direct responses of herpetofauna to fire and indirect effects via changes in upland and aquatic habitats. This review may serve as a general reference for resource managers and others interested in conserving and managing amphibians and reptiles.