Pyrodiversity is the spatial or temporal variability in fire effects across a landscape. Multiple ecological hypotheses suggest that high pyrodiversity will lead to high biodiversity. This resultant “pyrodiversity–biodiversity” hypothesis has grown popular but has received mixed support by recent empirical research. We performed a systematic literature review of research related to pyrodiversity and the pyrodiversity–biodiversity hypothesis and also examined how two individual species with distinct relationships with fire (spotted owl Strix occidentalis and black-backed woodpecker Picoides arcticus) respond to pyrodiversity as case studies to illustrate underlying mechanisms. We identified 41 tests of the pyrodiversity–biodiversity hypothesis reported from 33 studies; 18 (44%) presented evidence in support of the pyrodiversity–biodiversity hypothesis, while 23 (56%) did not. However, a recent body of research shows that biodiversity appears to respond positively to pyrodiversity in the Sierra Nevada, CA. In addition, both the spotted owl and black-backed woodpecker – two species expected to respond in opposite ways to fire disturbance – respond positively to pyrodiversity as well. This suggests that pyrodiversity may promote both biodiversity broadly and focal species in this region. The positive benefits of pyrodiversity to overall forest resilience suggest broader adoption of this management paradigm could achieve multiple objectives.