The BEHAVE modeling system and its accompanying 13 standard fuel models are useful in predicting wildfire behavior and planning prescribed fires. Typical hardwood fuel situations are represented by Model 6 (hardwood slash), Model 8 (compacted litter), and Model 9 (loose litter). We compared fire behavior in oak (Quercus) shelterwood stands to BEHAVE generated predictions using the above fuel models and a custom fuel model.Three mature mixed-oak stands were partially harvested using the shelterwood system. Each stand was divided into three treatments (spring burn, summer burn, and winter burn) and was prescribed burned 2-5 years later. Fuel loadings were measured prior to the prescribed fires to create a custom fuel model. Treatment areas were burned using striphead fires or ring fires and the head fires and backing fires were measured for flame length and rate-of-spread.Overall, BEHAVE provided useful predictions of fire behavior in a shelterwood setting. Of the four fuel models, the customized one most accurately predicted flame lengths and rates of spread. Model 6 greatly overestimated fire behavior while Models 8 and 9 consistently underestimated fire behavior. When planning prescribed fires in oak shelterwood settings, land managers need to be mindful that the typical hardwood fuel models don't accurately predict fire behavior for this situation. © 1998, Tall Timbers Research, Inc. Abstract reproduced by permission.