The massive wildfire that is ravaging northeast Arizona is surely causing hardship for many humans and its scar will stretch across the landscape for many years to come. But wildfires, like floods, hurricanes and other weather-related "disasters" have been essential to the health of natural ecosystems throughout the history of our planet.
Usually triggered by lightening and fueled by drought, wildfires serve to clean out our forests, recycle nutrients and protect our prairies. For many plants, as with lodgepole pines, wildfire is an essential factor in the reproductive cycle, releasing seeds and setting the stage for germination. Furthermore, fire removes invading, alien plants that are unable to withstand its effects, clearing the landscape for native species.
While a large number of creatures may succumb to wildfire, most animals that live in fire-prone ecosystems adapt to these seasonal events, escaping the flames within burrows or using their natural skills to flee the torrent. Humans, on the other hand, tied to their plot of earth, are at the mercy of wildfires and often lose their homes and possessions; the choice to live amidst the natural beauty of fire-born ecosystems comes with a price.
