Natural forests where fires are not controlled do sometimes have catastrophic burns, but more often there are only frequent, smaller burns that clear out brush and dry material without damaging the larger trees, or the forest as a whole. Places where fires are aggressively prevented, yet are not cleared in some way, build up lethal levels of fuel.

Smokey the Bear may have done more harm than good.

The redwoods out here are actually designed to survive fires, with a very fire-resistant bark, and their green parts high above the forest floor atop a long trunk.

There are a number of plant species with seeds that only germinate when heated by fire. There are even some that are triggered by the chemicals in smoke.