We analyzed the long-term effects of fuels reduction treatments around a wildland-urban interface located in the Blue Mountains near La Grande, Oregon. The study area is targeted for fuels reduction treatments on both private and federal lands to reduce the risk of severe wildfire and associated damage to property and homes. We modeled a number of hypothetical fuel treatment scenarios and examined the resulting changes in fuel characteristics, fire potential, and stand structure over time. Aggressive thinning alternatives showed significant reductions in stand characteristics that contribute to severe crown fires, such as height to live crown and crown bulk density for the landscape as a whole. However, simulations with extensive thinning showed larger overall flame lengths and torching compared to a no management scenario. Significant changes in stand structure and other characteristics were noted for the thinning versus no management scenarios. Work is ongoing to refine the simulation methods and test a wider range of treatment alternatives. The study motivated a discussion of the long-term problem of managing forest fuels in areas like the Blue Mountains.