Approximately, one month ago the news media was rife with details of
problems caused by escalating fires that swept through forested areas in
Southern California. (Kennedy, 2003) The newsreels teemed with instances
of people whose houses had burned down or were in danger of being burned
down. Naturally, one feels for these people deprived of their home and
hearth by devastating effects of the fire. On the other hand, one must
recognize the facts that not only are forest fires natural, they are a way
for the earth to maintain ecological balance. Fires replenish the earth by
doing away with the unwanted underbrush that threatens to suffocate the
longer living plants by depriving the earth of aeration and nourishing
water. It will be shown in this work that the plants have adapted to
fires. Indeed, some plants have evolved to fuel the fires. Other plants
have evolved to suppress fires. Still other plants have evolved to
flourish in firesâ€"their seeds only germinate after a fire. Plants are the
primary providers in the food chain. Therefore, the flora of a region is
the primary cause of the primary line of defense wherever natural fires are
concerned. The fauna of a region is generally affected secondarily. The
only animals that have an influence on fires are humans. Humans
inadvertently, maliciously or carelessly cause fires. This essay will be
devoted to providing a study of the relationships of fire in the
maintenance of a balanced ecosystem and human efforts that are either
(unwittingly) deleterious or beneficial. Fire, which is an integral part of
nature, is important and necessary. It cleans the forest floors of dead
organic matter and cycles nutrients back into the earth. The floor
vegetation makes the land stagnant by retaining excess ...