Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-110
§551c–1 Limitations on Prescribed Burns
Title 16 › CHAPTER 3 — FORESTS; FOREST SERVICE; REFORESTATION; MANAGEMENT › SUBCHAPTER I — GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 551c–1
Summary
The Secretary must not allow prescribed burns on Forest Service land when the national fire danger rating shows the county or a neighboring county is at extreme fire danger. The Secretary can allow a burn in that situation only after working with State and local fire officials. At the end of each fiscal year, the Secretary must send Congress a report listing how many and where burns happened and which ones were allowed under that exception.
Full Legal Text
Title 16, §551c–1
Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In general
Except as provided in subsection (b), the Secretary shall not authorize a prescribed burn on Forest Service land if, for the county or contiguous county in which the land is located, the national fire danger rating system indicates an extreme fire danger level.
(b)Exception
The Secretary may authorize a prescribed burn under a condition described in subsection (a) if the Secretary coordinates with the applicable State government and local fire officials.
(c)Report
At the end of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing—
(1)the number and locations of prescribed burns during that fiscal year; and
(2)each prescribed burn during that fiscal year that was authorized by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (b).
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Definitions Pub. L. 114–275, § 2, Dec. 14, 2016, 130 Stat. 1405, provided that: “In this Act [enacting this section and provisions set out as a note under section 551 of this title]: “(1) National fire danger rating system.—The term ‘national fire danger rating system’ means the national system used to provide a measure of fire danger according to a range of low to moderate to high to very high to extreme. “(2) Prescribed burn.—The term ‘prescribed burn’ means a planned fire intentionally ignited. “(3) Secretary.—The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
16 U.S.C. § 551c–1
Title 16, Conservation
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110