Fire management is dictated by community and political pressure-at least that's what conventional wisdom in the fire community tells us. However, few studies have investigated the validity of that axiom, and little is known about the relative influence of internal and external pressures on fire management decisions. In this era of changing climates, intense fire activity, and reduced budgets, flexible fire management may be the most prudent approach, and it is important to understand the source of and context for limitations on more flexible strategies.