A fire crew burns a black line on one edge of a prescribed burn unit.

In the preparation of the fire plan, managers carefully study the site to minimize the risk of fire escaping from the burn unit. One way managers decrease the risk is by constructing a barrier, or firebreak or fire line, around the prescribed fire site. Natural firebreaks, such as roads, ditches, water or other physical features devoid of natural fuel are the best barriers. Frequently, however, a firebreak must be built ahead of time to remove materials that would fuel a wildfire. Mowing and wetting down the area with fire hoses are methods used to prevent fire from burning outside the prescribed area.

On the day of the prescribed fire, the fire crew considers all environmental elements, the most important being relative humidity, temperature, moisture in the vegetation and wind speed and direction. Wind determines where the fire will be ignited and in which direction it will burn; the fire plan specifies which wind directions are acceptable. If conditions are not appropriate, the burn is delayed.

A firefighter uses a drip torch to ignite a portion of a prescribed burn unit near Rankin Ridge at Wind Cave National Park.

Fire crews light the prescribed fire with a drip torch (a can of fuel with a flame-carrying wick at the spout). When the drip torch is tilted, fuel squirts past the wick and creates a stream of flames that lands where the drip torch is pointed.

The burn boss and ignition specialist usually determine where the fire should be placed and direct the operation of the person carrying the drip torch. Most of the fire crew members concentrate on containing the fire within the previously constructed firebreaks. Crews use fire hoses, flappers, and backpack pumps filled with water to control the edges of the fire at the firebreaks. Nearby fire engines and water tenders (tankers) can be mobilized if they are needed.

After fire crews complete the prescribed fire and extinguish smoldering remains, the site looks charred and lifeless. However in less than three days the basal (base) leaves of prairie plants such as little bluestem, buffalo grass, black root sedge, needle and thread grass, and prairie sand reed appear under the charred remains.