From the text ... 'The use of fire by humans has a long and storied history, as has been chronicled globally by noted fire historian Stephen Pyne.... A prescribed fire can, if properly executed, accomplish many beneficial purposes.... There are lots of things to potentially document on a prescribed fire, but one should ensure that the basics are covered off first.... One of the most notable sources on prescribed fire is the proceedings of the Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference series.... The biggest challenge for fire managers faced with a steadily rising prescribed-burn targets is lack of practical experience within their fire organizations.... The reality is that individuals involved in prescribed burning are exposed to the same natural and manmade hazards as those involved in fire suppression operations.... Fire managers must hone their skills to efficiently and economically accomplish ever-increasing restoration/fire hazard abatement targets.... The biggest challenge for the future will be to effectively communicate to our local constituencies the risk of not burning an area.' (p.6) * 'In keeping with the definition adopted by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group in the United States -- and therefore with usage required in Fire Management Today -- this article refers to planned-ignition prescribed fires simply as 'prescribed fires.''