Steemit Engagement Challenge S11/W1 - Perhaps if man had not invented fire, what would this earth have looked like?

^{The 2017 fires along the Garden Route of South Africa}

It is amazing that so often it is the thing that man needs for survival that destroys him. "Too much of a good thing is not good."

On Monday morning, it was on National Television about the devastating wildfires on Rhodes Island caused by the severe heat.

The same evening, there was a talk show about the warming of the earth and the warning that went out to our farmers. South Africa is earmarked for extreme drought, wildfires, and heavy rain in the coming years.

I take my hat off to farmers. They plant trees, some that will bear fruit and others that will be turned into paper. The fruit bearing trees will take 7-8 years to bear fruit, and the plantation trees will take up to 30 years. How do you plan ahead for so many years?

One of the biggest fire disasters in South Africa happened during a wildfire on the popular Garden Route and the towns of Sedgefield, Knysna, and Plettenberg Bay in 2017, all because of extreme heat, low rainfall, and strong winds.
What was amazing was that spot fires were made, but the fires were burning so high and the wind was so strong that fire was literally flying through the air. Fires crossed the National Highway.

Our holiday home, a log cabin is situated on the mountain in Keurboomstrand near Plettenberg Bay. As we were on an overseas holiday all we could do was phone friends and rely on word from our family.

Back in South Africa, and the fires were still burning. We decided it would be best to go and see what we could do. The airports were closed due to the heavy smoke, and all we could do was travel the twelve hours by car, not knowing if our cabin was still standing or not.
We were lucky that the fires missed our village. Others were not. Close to a thousand houses burned down, businesses, thousands of acres of plantations, and thousands of animal lives were lost.

What amazed me was that when we traveled to Knysna to see if we could be of any help, we traveled through a patch of green, then through smoke and ashes, then green again. The way in which these fires spread was totally astonishing.

What we saw in these few days would leave a burning memory forever.

^{Driving to our log cabin}

Perhaps if man had not invented fire, what would this earth have looked like?

I think this question is wrong. It was not man who invented fire; it was fire that was discovered.

The Cradle of Humankind is a world heritage site only a few kilometers from Krugersdorp near Johannesburg, where I lived for nearly 20 years. This heritage site was named due to the fact that Africa is considered to be "the cradle of humanity." Here fossils of dinosaurs and mankind have been found over the years that date back as far as 200 million years.

Through research, it was determined that Hominids (our claimed ancestors) emerged +/- 7,000 years ago. A skull of an Australopithecus Africanus, named Mrs. Plus, was discovered in 1947, and it is estimated that it could be between 2,5 and 2,8 million years old.

What fascinated me when I visit this heritage site with family and friend was not the fact that you are introduced to the evolution of species, but that species dated millions of years ago were already using tools then made from stone, and the fact that there is clear evidence of an emotion or a feeling like "love" from where and how these fossils were found.

Best of all, there is numerous evidence not only of the use of fires but also of their control, from staying warm to cooking.

To come back to what the earth would have looked like, there are only two words for it…

Boring! That is if you got used to the technology around you, as technology would not have been developed without fire, and we would not have lived the lives we are living now.

Beautiful! If you are one of those who love the great outdoors, sleeping under the stars, or hiding in a cave.

Info from The Cradle of Humankind

^{Nearly 1000 houses were destroyed}

How do you think man discovered fire?

For our next stop, I am taking you to the Wonderwerk Cave, also in South Africa. Here some of the earliest evidence of burned bones and the ashes of plants were found, which proved the control of fires.

One of the earliest examples of possible human control of fire was also found in South Africa at Swartkrans. The foundings included burned bones with hominin-inflicted cut marks.

What this means is that fire could have been "harvested" from a nearby field fire and then transported to a safe place like this cave. Or else, fires could have been discovered by accident. One of our ancestors was sitting sharpening a stone tool, and a spark from a flint or "fire stone" ignited a spark. It could also have been from lightning or the eruption of a volcano.

There is not clear evidence of when or how fires were started by man, but one thing is sure; as long as there is oxygen, heat, and fuel, there will be fire.

^{Businesses burned down}

Advantages and disadvantages of fire

All fires are not bad. I think it is important that we understand this before we take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages.

I was attending Bible study a few years ago, and the ladies were discussing the fires that were happening near Cape Town. One of them, whose husband was an ecologist, explained to us why we must allow fires to happen. It stimulates plant growth, as simple as that.

South Africa’s National flower, the Protea, that grows in the wild near Cape Town, is one of these plants. It doesn’t release its seeds if there is no fire.
Fires, believe it or not, also improve wildlife habitat and help with the control of invasive species.

She also explained that we need fires to burn to protect the earth from major fires. I remember how my grandfather used to start smaller fires around his farm to protect his maize fields during the winter.

ADVANTAGES	DISADVANTAGE
Good for the ecosystem	Can destroy the ecology
Give of warmth	Erosion and sedimentation
Use for electricity, light and cooking	Contribute to air pollution, climate change
Killing of diseases	Can cause health issues
Incineration of waste	Fires can cause a lot of damage
Cremation	Used as a weapon or mode of destruction

As with everything in life, there are always advantages and disadvantages. Of importance is how we balance it.

^{Shelters were erected for those who lost their homes}

Is fire essential for us or not?

YES!

🔥 Fire plays a vital role in the development of man, his culture, and the earth we live on.

🔥 Without fire, we will be living in a world without a meaning.

🔥 Millions of people around the world will be unemployed as many jobs use fire.

🔥 It will be so much harder to create technology without fire.

🔥 Progress without fire will be so much harder.

There is no argument; we need fire to make the world a more comfortable place to live.

^{Plantations burned down to the ground}

How should we handle fire for a safe environment?

It is only us humans that can keep us safe from the devastation fires can cause.

It is clear that we need to know more about fires so that we can allow them to play a role in the ecosystem. This we can only do if we have more manpower that can help with the control of smaller fires. If our ancestors could practice fire control, so can we. We will just do it not in a cave but in the wide world.

People from a young age must be made aware of the dangers of fire and that irresponsible actions can cause the deaths of many people and animals. A bottle left in the park after a picnic can leave thousands of people homeless.

We need to enforce rules like;
• no littering
• keep fire-lighting material away from children
• no making fires where we shouldn’t
• put fires out properly when camping
• keep flammable products in a safe environment
• regular safety check for gas bottles and wiring
• no smoking in certain areas

Increase water availability in areas where we know fires can be dangerous, like forests. Often, this can be done by clearing areas around dams and lakes before a dry season.

It is of utmost importance that management plans are in place in parks, forests, and farms. Proper planning before the winter months can result in great harvests.

Technology can play a vital role in controlling fires. Already, drones, satellites, and robots are used. Technology can also help improve the gear of fire fighters.

According to scientists, huge wildfires occur in cycles of 150 years, but I’m afraid if we don’t wake up and take care of Mother Earth, we are in for a rude awakening.

^{All images are my own}

I invite: @irawandedy @harferri @kouba01 @ngoenyi @sduttaskitchen

Thanks to @dove11, @alejos7ven, @elrazi for inviting me.

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