Range fire near Hammett, Idaho on September 8, 2004.

Unlike fire in forests which is beneficial to the forests' health and species, fire in deserts was infrequent before the arrival of settlers and pioneers. Plants in the desert are not adapted to fire, and consequently often suffer dire consequences from human caused fires. Artemisia tridentata (big sagebrush) is the dominant shrub in much of the Columbia Basin and Northern Great Basin. Big sagebrush is killed by fire and does not resprout from root crowns like many other plants. It and sometimes take years and decades to re-establish in burned areas from seedlings. Some areas seem to never recover, and the absence of shrubs is a clear indication of recurrent fires.

Areas that are burned are more susceptible to invasion by non-native species such as medusa head, cheatgrass and tumble mustard. These species are annuals and form a continuous cover of fine fuels that dry out in early summer. This cover of fine fuels makes the area more likely to burn again in the near future- making it nearly impossible for native species to re-establish. Areas dominated by annual exotic species also often have an prolonged fire season, because the fuels dry quick and earlier in the season. Contrary to earlier ideas about sagebrush in range management, sagebrush is now seen as an important component in desert ecosystems. The fire return interval in desert ecosystems has greatly increased with increasing human interaction, and stands of sagebrush throughout Western North America are in danger of disappearing. Besides many native plants there are also animal species that depend on sagebrush such as pygmy rabbits and sage grouse are in danger of extinction mainly because of habitat loss.