Forces of Nature - Forest Fires Nature's Enemies

Fire is one of the forces of nature which Man has learned to control and use to his own advantage. The extreme power of fire can be seen from the year rings of trees, where charred wood is surrounded by new, fresh wood. When a forest fire blazes up, there is not much people can do. Forests fires are common in the pinewoods on the south-east and western parts of the United States and are becoming increasingly common in Australia. They are preceded by long periods of drought. Fires occur in many forests in temperate zones and intervals of 5-25 years. This is a natural cyclical process, and the natural environment and the ecosystem recover very quickly. The intensity and unpredictability of forest fires make them one of the most dreaded natural phenomena on our planet.