Wildfire It's been the subject of legends; the source and sustenance of many of America's forests, shrub lands, grasslands, and other wildlands; and a central theme in forest management in the United States during the 20th century (Agee 1998). Fire plays a vital role in the maintenance of the health of many ecosystems (Hutto 2008, Pollet and Omi 2002), in part by promoting a mosaic of vegetation and by stimulating the establishment and growth of particular trees and other plants (Brown 2000); indeed, many wildland species, such as the lodgepole pine found in the West, require fire to regenerate (Brown and Smith 2000). However, wildfire can also be the cause of economic and ecological losses and can pose threats to people, property, and communities.