Facing Fire…From Rituals to Smoke Jumping

By Rodrigo Olea Cosignani

Humans have always watched fire with fascination. Throughout history, humankind has used it as a tool and a symbol of power; only recently have we begun to understand its role in nature. The continuous depredation of the biosphere has taken us to the point where humanity cannot risk loosing any more forest acreage. Of the many forest-fire combative initiatives in recent history, perhaps the most interesting is the Smokejumpers program which began in 1939. This thesis deals with the relationship between fire and man. Specifically it addresses the duality of wildfire as a devastating incident and prescribed fire as a means to controll the healthy development of the forest and the ecosystem. Above all else, the thesis addresses the challenges of facing fire with limited resources, and the opportunities and responsibilities these present to designers.

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