Home > Stop Wildfires! > Wildfire Science > Natural Fire

Natural Fire

Some ecosystems depend on periodic fires to maintain the habitats which make up the ecosystem. In these fire adapted areas, fire promotes plant and wildlife diversity and burns away accumulations of live and dead plant material (leaves, branches, trees).

FIRE DEPENDENT ECOSYSTEM MAP

* Roll over a region and click to see information

	•	Boreal common in southern Alaska extending as far north as Fairbank, Tundra is found in the higher elevation of this zone. Tundra extends from the Brooks Range north to the Arctic Ocean.
	•	Because of Alaska's cool year-round temperatures, vegetation decays at a very slow rate, thereby releasing nutrients at a very slow rate. Following a fire in the boreal forest or tundra, large amounts of nutrients are released.
	•	Fires in the boreal forest and tundra typically burn in a patchwork leaving a mosaic across the landscape.
	•	Plants exploit this opportunity, especially the early successional plants. In turn, wildlife exploits the lush growth. Consequently, Alaska's plant and animal communities are highly dependent on fire regimes.

Approximate number of acres burned in the U.S. so far this year

Wildfires Burning Today

Enlarge the map

View current US Wildfires via
Google Earth

Get Your Smokey Mask!

Get your Smokey On Pledge

Click here to Sign In

Fire is Nature's Housekeeper

Fires have burned regularly, consuming vegetation, accumulations of insects and diseases, and triggering a rebirth of forests.

Many plants have evolved adaptations that protect them as a species against the effects of wildland fire, and some are even strengthened by it.

Nearly every region in the country has some kind of fire dependent plant or tree.

Some ecosystems such as deserts are not fire dependent and fire needs to be put out quickly to reduce damage.