Soil physical and chemical properties can be altered by the heat released during a fire. The magnitude and the duration of soil physico-chemical alterations are dependent on components of the fire regime such as fire severity and intensity. In field studies, we assessed the effects of forest fires of different severities and intensities on total and active fungal hyphae as well as fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) fungal biomarkers in soil. Soil fungi recovered more slowly than bacteria after a fire event; ratios of active to total fungi decreased with increasing fire severity and intensity, and in soil burned by a high intensity fire, the ratio of active-to-total fungi was still zero one year after the fire. We also assessed soil chemical (pH, C, N, and available nutrients) and physical (temperature, moisture content) properties in recovering soils, although the cause of slow fungal recovery could not be directly determined. Therefore, we conducted laboratory studies to determine the mechanisms by which fire affects soil fungi. We hypothesized that fungal recovery is slow due to 1) fire-induced pH changes in soil, 2) alterations in carbon substrate quality, or 3) production of antifungal compounds by recovered soil bacteria. Results from the laboratory study will be discussed. This study will help identify specific soil properties and/or mechanisms which influence the ability of soil fungi to recover following a fire event.