The planned and controlled application of fire to the land under specified conditions, to reduce vegetation and risk from wildfire.
One of the primary obstacles to increasing the pace and scale of beneficial fire use in California is the difficulty for practitioners to obtain adequate liability coverage, although the rates and losses from escapes are very low. Public Resource Code (PRC) sections 4500 and 4503 establish the Prescribed Fire Liability Fund Pilot Program (Fund). Guidelines have been established by a collaborative group of state agencies, prescribed fire practitioners, burn bosses, and cultural fire practitioners. Enrollment in the Fund is achieved by completing the California Prescribed Fire Claims Fund Online Application. Claims and questions can be sent to liabiltyclaimsfund@fire.ca.gov
As a land management tool, prescribed fire is an efficient and cost-effective way to reduce fuels where physical and social conditions are conducive to its use.
