Wildfire is one of the most complex and pressing challenges facing rangelands across the West. It spreads across vast acres, can be unpredictable, and impacts livestock, wildlife, watersheds, and communities. AND, in fire-dependent ecosystems, one thing is for certain, wildfires will happen. But here’s something we often overlook in the science: the way we talk about wildfire—specifically, the words and metaphors we use—shapes how we think about it, and more importantly, how fire is perceived.
A recent study by Marghetis and Matlock (2025) highlights two powerful metaphors that dominate wildfire communication: wildfire as a hungry beast and wildfire as an enemy in war. Each one captures truths, but each one also fundamentally influences (both directly and indirectly) our perception and understanding of fire in unique and subtle ways that ultimately shapes public opinion, rangeland management, policy, and the fire culture in our communities.
The Hungry Beast
We often describe wildfire as if it were alive: “the fire devoured thousands of acres” or “the flames chased families from their homes.” In this framing, fire is a beast that must constantly eat to survive. Fuel—grass, brush, or timber—becomes its food.
This perspective helps make sense of strategies like fuel management and prescribed fire. If fire is a beast that feeds on dry vegetation, then the way to manage it is to reduce its meals—clear brush, thin trees, or burn under controlled conditions. Just as you wouldn’t leave a hungry predator loose in the pasture, you don’t want to leave rangelands overgrown and ready to “feed” a wildfire. The hungry beast metaphor can also make prescribed fire easier to explain: small, prescribed, managed fires “starve” future wildfires by reducing their food supply before it can fuel an uncontrollable blaze.
The Enemy at War
Another common metaphor is war. Headlines talk about firefighters “battling the blaze” or “losing ground in the fight.” In this framing, wildfires are enemies that attack communities, and humans must defend, strategize, and fight back.
This metaphor highlights the collective effort required. Wars aren’t won alone—they demand teamwork, coordination, and resources. For ranchers and rural communities, this means recognizing that no single landowner can manage wildfire risk in isolation. It takes neighbors, agencies, and communities working together. This metaphor can also inspire urgency, making people more willing to join cooperative efforts like community wildfire protection plans or cross-boundary fuel reduction projects.
Metaphors aren’t just catchy phrases—they influence how we think and act. If we only see wildfire as an enemy, prescribed fire may feel counterintuitive—why would you start a fire if you’re supposed and only supposed to be fighting one? But if we see wildfire as a hungry beast, prescribed fire makes sense: starve it now so it doesn’t grow out of control later.
The Truth is…
The truth is, both metaphors carry insights and both can be misleading. Wildfires don’t have emotions or memories, and they can’t be appeased like real predators. Nor can they be “defeated” once and for all like an enemy in war. Effective communication—and effective management—requires balancing these frames with ecological science. The key is to use these frames wisely. Both metaphors highlight truths—fire consumes, and fire threatens—but neither tells the whole story. For landowners and ranchers, the lesson is clear: our words matter. The way wildfire is described influences whether communities support prescribed fire, brush management, or cooperative wildfire planning.
In West Texas, where drought, fuel buildup, and high winds can quickly turn small fires into big ones in minutes, how we talk about fire matters. If we frame fire wisely, we can help our communities understand why fuel management, prescribed fire, and collective action are critical tools for building resilience.
As these authors remind us: metaphors bridge the gap between science and everyday understanding. By choosing our words and metaphors carefully, we can help landowners, neighbors, and decision-makers see wildfire not just as an enemy or beast, but as a natural process we can manage—together.
For more information, please read: Tyler Marghetis & Teenie Matlock (2025) Metaphorical Framing of Wildfires Shapes What They Are, How They Act, and How We Should Respond, Metaphor and Symbol, 40:1, 38-50, DOI: 10.1080/10926488.2024.2415139
For more information on talking about prescribed fire with county officials, please visit: Prescribed Burning Communications Kit