The effects of fire on forest are well known. Much was written about the Yellowstone fires of 1988 and the numerous fires of the western United States of 1994. Missouri has its share of fires today, and has had fires for the past thousands of years. Indians reportedly burned the forests of what is now Missouri to attract game, increase agricultural use or defend themselves. With settlement, fire occurrence increased with increasing numbers of people but the severity of fires decreased with increased levels of fire control.
Forests respond to fire in one of two general ways.
Low intensity, repeated fires can create and maintain a thin canopy of fire resistant trees with an understory of fire tolerant grasses and forbs. Years of this type of fire can result in what many have called savanna or woodland. A second type of response would result from more intense or less frequent fires. This would have a regenerating effect on a forest. After years of good growing conditions without fires to reduce fuel buildups, and with the proper dry wind and fuel conditions, a fire can kill all trees in a forest.