The Fascinating History of Fire

It’s one of the most powerful forces of nature. 

It can destroy entire forests within a day. It can take down any building in its path. It can change darkness into light. And it can turn a marshmallow into a delicious gooey treat. 

What is this magic, you ask? 

Fire.

It’s one of the strongest forces of nature. 

It can destroy whole forests in a day. It can take down a building in its path. It can turn  darkness into light. And it can melt a marshmallow into a yummy, sticky treat. 

What is this magic? 

Fire.

Think about your day so far. Chances are you’ve interacted with fire in one way or another. Maybe you ate pancakes cooked to perfection on the flame of your kitchen stove. Or you rode a school bus that burned fuel in its engine. 

The glass in your classroom windows was made by firing sand. The bricks that hold up your home or school were built by baking clay in fire-powered ovens. And that hot shower you took this morning? The water was likely heated with fire. 

“We use fire for everything,” says Stephen Pyne, a professor at Arizona State University who studies fire. 

But when did humans first discover fire? In ancient times, many cultures around the world had stories that answered this same question. Ancient Greeks thought a god named Prometheus (pruh-MEE-thee-uhs) gifted fire to humans. According to one story by the Ojibwe people in North America, humans received fire from a crow after the bird took it from the sun. 

Today we know that fire starts when fuel, like wood or gas, mixes with heat and oxygen in the air. Sometimes this happens naturally—from lightning that shoots down from the sky during a storm, for example. When volcanoes erupt, sizzling lava can also ignite fires. 

So early humans were definitely aware of fire. But unlike any other animal, our ancestors found a way to control it and start it when they wanted. By doing so, they changed the course of history forever.

Think about your day so far. You’ve probably used fire in one way or another. Maybe you ate pancakes cooked on the flame of your stove. Or you rode a school bus that burned fuel in its engine. 

The glass in your windows was made by heating sand. The bricks that built your school were made by baking clay in fire-powered ovens. And that hot shower you took this morning? The water was likely heated with fire. 

“We use fire for everything,” says Stephen Pyne, a professor in Arizona who studies fire. 

But when did humans first discover fire? Long ago, many cultures around the world had stories that answered this question. 

Ancient Greeks thought a god named Prometheus (pruh-MEE-thee-uhs) gave fire to humans. The Ojibwe people in North America thought humans got fire from a crow that took it from the sun. 

Today we know how fire starts. 

When fuel, like wood or gas, mixes with heat and oxygen in the air, that makes fire. Sometimes this can happen without humans. For example, when lightning shoots down from the sky, it can cause a tree to catch fire. Or when lava flows from a volcano, it can ignite fires. 

So early humans certainly knew about fire. But unlike any other animal, they found a way to control it. Humans learned to start a fire when they wanted. 

By doing that, they changed the path of history forever.

When and how did our early relatives tame fire? Figuring that out is harder than you might think. To study early humans from thousands of years ago, researchers look at the ancient bones and tools they left behind. But fire only lasts for as long as it burns. Its traces—like ashes—can easily be blown away by wind or washed away by water.

Still, researchers have found evidence of old firepits and burned bones inside caves. Based on these findings, they think that early humans were using fire at least 800,000 years ago, and perhaps as far back as 1.5 million years ago.

Fire allowed our early relatives to survive and advance. It gave us comforting warmth on chilly nights. It gave us light to scare off predators like hungry wolves and growling tigers. It gave us a space where we could come together to share stories. And most importantly, it gave us a way to cook our food. 

Heat kills germs that can make us sick. It helps break down food so that our bodies can get more nutrition out of it. This likely helped our brains grow larger—and smarter. Cooking also helped make food easier to chew. Because of that, our teeth changed over time from being big and tough into the smaller teeth you have in your mouth today. 

“We are the fire creature,” says Pyne. “We couldn’t exist without it.”

When and how did early humans control fire? That question is hard to answer. To learn about human life thousands of years ago, researchers look at very old bones and tools. Inside caves, they have found traces of old firepits and burned bones. 

Based on these findings, they think that early humans started using fire at least 800,000 years ago. It’s possible humans were using fire as early as 1.5 million years ago.

Fire kept people alive. It kept us warm on cold nights. It gave us light to scare off wolves, tigers, and other hungry animals. It gave us a place where we could meet to tell stories. And most important, it gave us a way to cook our food. 

Heat kills germs that can make us sick. It helps break down food so that our bodies can use it to grow stronger. This likely helped our brains get bigger and smarter. Because cooking made food easier to chew, human teeth changed. Over time, they became smaller. 

“We are the fire creature,” says Pyne. “We couldn’t exist without it.”

For most of human history, making fire from scratch was incredibly hard. Early humans likely collected fire that had started naturally. Then they kept the flames going for later use with twigs, leaves, and animal dung. When they moved, they took glowing-hot embers with them, like you might pack your water bottle and snacks for a trip. 

Eventually, our ancestors figured out how to light fire on their own. They would strike two rocks together to create sparks that could start a blaze. Or they would rub a stick onto tinder until enough heat was produced to spark a flame.

Even when fire was hard to come by, people used it for all sorts of things—to make sharp tools for hunting, to clear land for farming, and to forge weapons for war. Then, in the 1820s, the first matches and lighters were invented—and they made kindling a fire super easy. By then, fire had become even more indispensable to our lives. People burned fuels like coal to warm their homes during the winter. Flames powered engines that moved ships and trains.

Fire allowed humans to spread to all corners of our planet.

For most of human history, making fire from scratch was very hard. Early humans likely found fire that had started in nature. Then they kept the flames going with twigs and leaves. When they moved, they took hot embers with them, like you might pack snacks for a trip. 

In time, humans learned how to light fire on their own. They would hit two rocks together to create sparks. Or they would rub a stick onto tinder until it made enough heat to light a flame.

People used fire for all sorts of things. They made sharp tools for hunting. They cleared land for farming. They used fire to forge weapons for war. Then, in the 1820s, the first matches and lighters were invented.  These tools made kindling a fire super easy. By then, fire was even more indispensable to our lives. People burned fuels like coal to warm their homes in winter. The engines that moved ships and trains got power from fire.

Fire let humans make homes all over the world.

But over the years, even as fire has fueled amazing progress, it has also become a source of terrible danger. For a long time, Indigenous people all over the world—including many Native Americans—used fire to keep forests clean by burning away dead trees. That also triggered the growth of other plants used for food and medicine. 

But many governments eventually outlawed using fire in this way. What they didn’t realize is that banning the practice has allowed forest fires to become even more destructive. Why? 

Because our forests have become filled with dead vegetation. Fires feed on all those dried-out leaves, logs, and pine needles, quickly growing monstrous and out of control.

Climate change is also making things worse. Air pollution is causing temperatures on Earth to rise. Droughts, long periods with little or no rain, are also becoming more frequent. Warm temperatures and arid conditions dry out plants, causing them to catch fire more easily. 

Today wildfires in the U.S. alone burn through about 7 million acres of land every year—an area bigger than the state of Massachusetts. And people cause nearly 85 percent of wildfires. How? By not putting out campfires properly, to give one example.

“We have taken our longtime best friend and made it our worst enemy,” says Pyne.

By taking better care of our planet, we can repair that friendship—and think again of fire as that magical power that inspired stories and made us who we are. 

So next time you’re sitting around a campfire, think about the incredible history of fire. Then celebrate by roasting another marshmallow—and don’t forget to put out that fire when you’re done!

Over the years, fire has sparked amazing progress. But it has also been a source of terrible danger. For a long time, Indigenous people, including many Native Americans, used fire to clear dead trees from forests. This allowed the growth of other plants that people used for food and medicine. 

But many governments banned this use of fire. They didn’t realize that stopping these human-made fires would cause much bigger forest fires. Why? 

Because our forests are now full of dead plants and trees. Fires feed on all those dry leaves, logs, and pine needles. The flames grow so fast they can’t be controlled.

Climate change is also making things worse. Air pollution causes hotter temperatures on Earth. Droughts, long periods without rain, are happening more often. These warm temperatures and arid conditions dry out plants. Dry plants catch fire more easily. 

Every year, wildfires in the U.S. alone burn through about 7 million acres of land. That’s an area bigger than the state of Massachusetts. And people cause nearly 85 percent of wildfires. How? By not putting out campfires, for example.

“We have taken our longtime best friend and made it our worst enemy,” says Pyne.

By taking better care of our planet, we can fix that broken friendship. We can think of fire again as the magical power that made humans who we are. 

So next time you’re sitting around a campfire, think about the amazing history of fire. Then roast another marshmallow—and don’t forget to put out that fire when you’re done! 

In the dead of night, clever Prometheus stole a spark from the everlasting fire that spread warmth and light over Mount Olympus. He carried the flame down to Earth, careful to protect it from the wind and the rain. The flame was a tiny heartbeat—it was life. When he reached Earth at last, Prometheus held out his hands.

“Here is fire,” he said, presenting his gift to a group of humans. “Use this power well.”

The tiny flame flickered like starlight, and humans crowded around to get a good look. Then they took Prometheus’s gift with heartfelt thanks and shared the fire among themselves.

But as fire spread, it was impossible to keep it hidden from Zeus’s watchful eyes. From Mount Olympus, Zeus saw a far-off gleam in the night, and he knew it was fire—fire that he had clearly forbidden. He burst with fiery anger. He clenched his fists and gnashed his teeth.

“I will make Prometheus pay,” Zeus thundered. “I will make them all pay for the fire!”

In the middle of the night, clever Prometheus stole a spark from the fire that warmed Mount Olympus. He carried the flame down to Earth. He had to protect it from wind and rain. The flame was like a tiny heartbeat—it was life. When he reached Earth at last, Prometheus held out his hands.

“Here is fire,” he said, showing his gift to a group of humans. “Use this power well.”

The tiny flame glowed like a star. Humans came close to get a good look. Then they took Prometheus’s gift with great thanks. They shared the fire with each other.

But as fire spread, it was impossible to keep it hidden from Zeus. He was watching. From Mount Olympus, Zeus saw a spark far away in the night. He knew it was fire, and it was fire that he had banned. He was hot with anger. 

“I will make Prometheus pay,” Zeus yelled. “I will make them all pay for the fire!”

Zeus dealt with the humans first. He sent a woman named Pandora down to Earth with a box full of evils and told her never to open it. 

Of course, she was terribly curious. Just one tiny peek won’t hurt, she thought. 

She opened the lid of the box and . . . whoosh!

A flood of evils poured out. Humanity was now cursed with hard work, pain, sickness, and death.

“And now,” Zeus whispered, “Prometheus.”

Zeus chained the kind god to a rock and set loose an eagle to gnaw on his liver. At the end of each day, whatever the eagle had eaten would grow back during the night. Prometheus cried and begged for mercy, but Zeus turned his back and walked away. Finally, the mighty hero Hercules (HER-kew-leez) freed Prometheus from his pain.

Meanwhile, on Earth, humans were burning their wood, cooking their food, and staying warm near the flames. Even though they had to suffer with all the evils from Pandora’s box, they were happy and grateful because they still had the most precious gift of all—a strong, powerful fire. 

Zeus punished the humans first. He sent a woman named Pandora down to Earth. She had a box full of evils, and he told her not to open it. 

Of course, she was very curious. Just one tiny peek won’t hurt, she thought. 

She opened the lid of the box and . . . whoosh!

A flood of evils poured out. Humanity was now cursed with hard work, pain, sickness, and death.

“And now,” Zeus said, “Prometheus.”

Zeus chained the kind god to a rock. He set loose an eagle to peck at his liver day after day. Every night, whatever the eagle had eaten would grow back. Prometheus cried and begged for mercy. Zeus walked away. Finally, the mighty hero Hercules (HER-kew-leez) set Prometheus free from his pain.

Meanwhile, on Earth, humans were burning their wood, cooking their food, and staying warm near their fires. They still had to put up with all the evils from Pandora’s box. 

But they were happy and grateful because they had the best gift of all. Fire.