In the U.S., the prospect of more frequent fires has intensified debates over how to manage forests.

NPR: Stronger Wildfires Part of Emerging Global Pattern

The Amazon forest provides a relevant example: due to the interaction of deforestation, fire and climate change, it is predicted that the Amazon could undergo a widespread dieback in the future, with parts of the forest moving into a self-perpetuating cycle of more frequent fires and intense droughts, leading to a shift to savanna-like vegetation.

FORBES: The Future of Life On Earth: A Two-Part Discussion

In some cases it allowed the build-up of grasses, shrubs and young trees that formerly had been removed by frequent, mild fires.

ECONOMIST: The fires return