How do forest fires begin?
In this week’s parsha, Moshe encounters the burning bush. Recently, wildfires in California have brought this issue into the spotlight. Fire is a natural part of many environments, and keeps forests healthy by clearing out dead matter. It returns nutrients to the soil, which helps new plants grow, and clears the tree canopy to let in more sunlight. About 24,600 forest fires a year are started by lightning strikes, but about 80% are started by people—for many years, people have set “controlled fires” to bring about some of the above benefits and to reduce the likelihood of bigger, more damaging wildfires. After a fire, many plants resprout from their roots or the buds underneath their bark. This resilience gives us hope for recovery and renewal, even after devastating events.
