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This is a picture of a giant sequoia seedling. It can grow to be thousands of years old and up to 30+ feet in diameter. But, it needs something special to survive. At the bottom we see some burnt wood. This is a good indicator that fire has recently been through this area. In fact, if fire had not been through this place then this seedling might not be growing there. Giant sequoias need fire in order for their cones to open up enough to drop their seeds. Therefore without fire giant sequoias would not be able to reproduce. This is an example of when a forest fire can be beneficial. When a fire burns through a forest, it also decreases the amount of competition in the understory. This allows more sunlight to reach the ground which helps fire tolerant species such as the giant sequoia grow.

Fire can also be a useful tool. It can help thin out the dead and dying trees in a forest so that fuel will not build up. If fuel builds up in a forest, dangerous fires become more likely. A dangerous fire is one that can not be controlled.

Here is an example of a fire that has gotten out of control and is now dangerous. This is what we call a wild fire. These are the types of fires that Smokey the Bear now tells us to prevent. So what we need to understand is that, even though fire can be dangerous and take lives. It has been a part of nature for hundreds of years, and it can be healthy for a forest and beneficial for all.

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