Historical fire patterns

Historically, fires on the prairies of the Great Plains were caused by lightning and the actions of Native Americans. In either case, fires burned uncontrolled except for the influence of weather, fuels and topography. Most fires traveled with the prevailing winds in an easterly direction toward Missouri and the climatic zone that would otherwise favor forests. Where fires occurred often enough to limit tree growth, prairie vegetation advanced into Missouri. Where natural barriers such as rivers, streams, bluffs and other terrain features provided natural firebreaks, forests developed. This fire influence played a major role in keeping most of north and west Missouri in grasslands, with a mosaic of prairie intermingling with forests along rivers and in rough or rocky terrain.