Fire plays an important role in the natural cycle of life in the west.
A non-catastrophic fire, whether prescribed or natural, has many benefits. Prescribed fire is the controlled application of fire to the land to accomplish specific land management goals. Ignitions may be either human- or naturally caused. When excess vegetation or needle layers are burned off, nitrogen and other nutrients are released into the soil and become available for new plants to grow. Naturally thins overcrowded forests Historically, natural fire thinned Colorado s forests.