Prescribed burning to restore grasslands is more complicated than just setting a fire or, worse, letting a fire burn. We will examine how fire may be used to restore a more desirable landscape. First, any area that might be considered for prescribed fire should be thoroughly evaluated. Soils are paramount as they will indicate what we can expect from a given site. Then, we should study the plant community which originally existed on the site. Comparing the original plant community to the current plant community will help us construct a viable set of objectives. Second, we will determine how prescribed fire might be used in this restoration process. Should it be the first and only tool used or must it be preceded by some other tool, such as a mechanical or herbicidal treatment? Finally, we will consider a planning chart to organize the re-treatment scenario.