The past two years have been the worst fire years on record across the west coast of North America, with whole communities being engulfed in flames and smoke enveloping major cities for weeks. But as the airways fill once again with stories of valiant fire-fighters and people who’ve lost their homes, we answer some burning questions that seem to always fly under the radar. For example:

1. How long have fires been burning on this planet
2. Have our ecologies always been adapted to fire?
3. What role did indigenous peoples play in lighting fires in the past?
4. And how can we return prescribed burns to sensitive ecosystems?

To answer these questions, we talk to regional experts, including internationally renowned ethnobotanist Dr. Nancy Turner, in this first part of our two-part three-part series, On Fire.

Find shownotes, sources, and musical credits at https://www.futureecologies.net/listen/fe1-5-on-fire-pt-1

Ready for Part Two? https://www.futureecologies.net/listen/fe1-6-on-fire-pt-2

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