Research has shown that most fires burn themselves out without charring more than a few acres. In other words, nearly all fire suppression is a waste of time and money. If we do nothing at all, most fires will fizzle out on their own, affecting a very small amount of the landscape. Wildfires are controlled more by weather conditions or terrain than by human efforts. Nature squelches the flames - and we take the credit.
Severe drought coupled with high winds and low humidity make for large fires.
Yet such large fires are the major ecological force shaping most forest and range ecosystems in the West. Even if we could stop fires, it is reasonable to ask why do it in the first place. Most of the timber in the West can't be logged without government subsidies. Steep slopes, small tree size, slow growth and other factors make timber production on most public lands unprofitable. Our current view of fire is not that different from society's perception of wolves in the recent past.