Tree age distributions, fire history, tree age patterns, and gap-phase replacement were investigated in two, dry coniferous forest stands In the Willamette National Forest, Oregon. The fire history of 73 vegetation plots was also investigated. Natural stands burned at approximately 100-yr intervals before effective fire suppression .These fires generally destroyed only a portion of the canopy and were followed by periods of tree establishment (attainment of breast height) which spanned 60 to 150 yr. Repeated fires resulted in reverse-J shape diameter distributions and all—aged stands. The fires make regeneration by gap-phase replacement unimportant. The surviving trees generally occur in 0.1— to 0.3—ha patches. Managers can expect regeneration to be slow on the more severe sites. Based on this understanding of natural stand development, the selection silvicultural system is appropriate, but current regulations and ignorance of uneven—aged stand yields and appropriate logging systems currently limit the practice of selection silviculture.