In southwestern ponderosa pine forests, wildfires have become unnaturally damaging because of decades of fire exclusion and the increased density of forest stands. Large, severe fires are well known to be destructive to forest vegetation and wildlife, but an additional, often-unseen effect of fires is on and in the ground the disruption of soil structure and properties that can have a cascade of effects throughout forest systems. Forest soils supply air, water, nutrients, and mechanical support for plants, and provide habitat for decomposers, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and symbiotic fungi. Whether forest managers are looking to rehabilitate forests after wildfire or conduct restoration treatments intended to prevent severe wildfire, it is important to protect soils