"Fuel reduction burning is the use of prescribed fire, usually of low intensity beneath the canopy of eucalypt forest, to remove accumulated litter, plant debris or understorey plants which form the available fuel. Fuel reduction burning has been practiced on a systematic basis by land management agencies in parts of Australia for more than 25 years. The purpose of burning is to reduce hazards in several ways:

• reduce the total weight of fuels, so as to reduce the intensity of a subsequent wildfire. This should lead to quicker and easier suppression of the fire with a saving of resources.
• reduce the height of understorey vegetation and hence the flame height and rate of spread of a wildfire.
• remove firebrand material, principally fibrous or flaky bark from the trees, so as to reduce the potential of wildfires to generate spot fires ahead of the main fire front. The reduction of spotting potential can reduce overall rates of spread and make fire suppression easier and safer."

Source: CSIRO National Bushfire Research Unit 1987 - from Fire Research Report 41 (link below)