Why are wildfires good?

The threat of massive earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or all-consuming wildfires is relatively minimal. However, in places like California, the Rocky Mountains, and the Southern United States, wildfires are a stark reality to the people and ecosystems of the region. read more

As a researcher on wildfire and streams let me recount the many ways that natural wildfire is beneficial. Many forests cannot sustain themselves without natural wildfire, including pine barrens, lodgepole pine forests, Eucalyptus forests and many more. read more

Grasslands seem to recover extremely quickly; new growth appears within days of burning. Low-lying fires in a ponderosa pine forest have little to no effect on the trees, but do burn up anything low-lying on the ground. Old growth forest fires are different, and they are discussed below. read more

Every year forest fires consume thousands of acres of forests and wild lands. Trees are destroyed and homes are put at risk. Amid all this destruction is a required health benefit for the forest. read more

“Wildfires, when allowed to burn in areas where they do not impact human development, are regenerative for the forest, revitalizing for the watershed, renew the soil, and reset the clock for the ecosystem. As a researcher on wildfire and streams let me recount the many ways that natural wildfire is beneficial. read more