Keeping a controlled fire burning played a central part in communal life. Before the invention of modern implements, starting a fire, especially in adverse weather, usually required much time and labor to generate sufficient friction to ignite kindling. If people let their fire go out, they had to spend considerable time to start it again before they could eat and get warm. Today people naturally focus not on starting fires but on using fire productively and on preventing or extinguishing unwanted fires. We use fire to cook food and to heat our homes.
Industries use fire to fuel power plants that produce electricity.
At the same time, fire remains a potentially destructive force in people's lives. Natural fires started by lightning and volcanoes destroy wildlife and landscapes. Careless disposal of cigarettes and matches or carelessness with campfires leads to many wildfires. Fires in the home and workplace damage property and cause injury and death. Fires usually cost the United States and Canada more each year than floods, tornadoes, and other natural disasters combined.