Prescribed fire increases pyrogenic carbon in litter and surface soil in lowland Eucalyptus forests of south-eastern Australia.

•Prescribed fire emits 6.1Mgha−1 carbon (C) from the forest ecosystem.•Fire redistributes C from litter to soil and increases pyrogenic carbon (PyC).•Net loss of 1.6Mgha−1litterC offset by 1.7Mgha−1C gain in 0–2cm soil.•Fire increases PyC by 310kgha−1 in litter and 370kgha−1 in 0–2cm soil.•Net change in litter+soil (0–2cm) PyC comprises about 11% of fire altered carbon.