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Prometheus stealing fire from the Gods
© Bridgeman/Art resources, NY |
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No phenomenon is more terrifying, or more compelling. For nearly two million years, humans have feared fire, worshipped it as an attribute of the gods, and put it to work. It's been used for heating, cooking, driving game, eliminating threats, clearing land, and even as a means of communication.
What is Fire?
The word fire comes from the Greek word "pyra," which means glowing embers. Fire is actually the heat and light that result when three elements are combined: fuel, oxygen, and a heat source such as lightning or a match. Three elements also determine the fire's behavior: weather, topography (the features of the land), and the presence of fuel.
The fires in Indonesia were primarily set by large agricultural concerns, and also by individual farmers, to clear large areas for oil palm plantations. Drought conditions from the El Niño weather pattern have compounded the problem. Still, notes Dr Josh Ginsberg, "You can blame El Niño if you'd like, but we've been having droughts in rain forests for millennia."
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