This study examines the impacts of slash pile size and burning on various soil chemical characteristics and nutrient concentrations. Changes in soil characteristics following slash pile burns associated with forest thinning treatments may affect native and non-native floral species establishment and have broad implications for ecosystem functions, processes, and management. We sampled soils from plots under various slash pile burning treatments at The Arboretum at Flagstaff, Arizona, to determine their chemical characteristics.The characteristics consist of concentrations of macro- and micro-nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu, B) and pH. We compared the amounts of nutrients in burned plots with those in unburned plots where slash was removed by chipping. The treatments were tested on large and small piles. Burned slash pile plots had higher soil nutrient levels overall. The levels of N, Ca, K, Zn, and Na best illustrate this fertilizing effect. Significantly different values of N and P existed between treatments; however, the results show no distinct patterns related to the burning of slash. Nevertheless, there is enough evidence for a forest management decision involving burning any part of the forest to consider the effect of fires on soil chemistry.