While his life was held precious by his worshippers, the very value attached to it ensured his death. The ritual killing of the King of the Wood was believed to be the only way of preserving the Tree Spirit from inevitable decay. Each King of the Wood had to be killed by fire so that the divine Tree Spirit within him would be transferred in its entirety to a younger and more robust successor. An analogy can be made between these classical stories and the relationship between fire and forests in Ontario. In a sense, naturally recurring fires are analogous with the killing of the King of the Wood or death of the Phoenix.
Fires remove dead trees and litter from the forest floor.
Shrubs and trees invading grasslands are killed by fires to preserve the open nature of those ecosystems. After wildfire, new plant growth emerges and wildlife populations increase. Fire does not imply death, but rather change. Just as fire was associated with rebirth and renewal in mythology, it is viewed now as an instrument of change and a catalyst for promoting biodiversity and healthy ecosystems.