In 2009, new guidance for wildland fire management expanded the range of options for managers working to reduce the threat of high severity wildfire, improve forest health, and respond to a changing climate. A key element of the guidance provided greater flexibility to use naturally ignited wildfire as a tool for achieving multiple resource objectives. In some areas, managers have been using multiple wildfire management strategies to effectively achieve their goals, but overall the use and impact of new options are not well understood. New research is needed to understand how wildfire response has changed and its effects on natural resources. Our goal is to better understand the biophysical and social factors that influence wildfire response strategies as well as the impact of those strategies. We will use complementary quantitative and qualitative lines of investigation to meet the following four objectives: 1. Describe where, when and how wildfire response strategies have changed since issuance of the 2009 wildfire policy guidance. 2. Determine the impact of wildfire management strategies on high-value resources. 3. Determine how biophysical and resources conditions have influenced the ability to meet resource objectives depending on wildfire management response. 4. Identify the key social barriers and facilitators to changing wildfire management strategies and the perceptions regarding effects to high-value resources. Since the use of naturally ignited wildfires as a management tool is relatively new, we hope to provide valuable information that can assist land managers in implementation of naturally ignited wildfires for resource benefit. This information can help ensure that policies and practices adequately take into account dynamics that support and hinder preferred outcomes from wildfire response. Our work will result in three peer-reviewed publications, science-based fact-sheets, and manager-focus knowledge transfer in partnership with the JFSP knowledge exchanges.