In fact, large logs can take more than 100 years to decompose. This process is aided by the numerous species of bacteria, insects, and wildlife that live in the decomposing materials. All this rotting is one way that nature recycles nutrients back into the soil. Pine needles decompose very slowly. As a result, year after year, pine needles continue to build up until they are eliminated by fire.
Faster recycling occurs during a fire.
Gasses are released into the atmosphere in the form of smoke. In the burned area, nitrogen and other nutrients remain and are leached back into the soil as rain soaks the ground. This is nature's way of rapidly recycling nutrients. Unfortunately, when there's too much fuel on the ground and it's burned in an intense wildfire these benefits are often missing. Intense fires tend to scorch the ground and kill the trees above.