But as fires increased by more than half, the number of firefighters decreased by a third.
As fires, logging, and droughts continue, the forest can become progressively more open until all the trees are lost.
They can even put people in danger, by drawing them out of their homes as fires near.
Videos from Weng'an posted on YouTube showed groups of protesters standing and watching as fires engulfed a local government building.
The burned area continues to grow even larger, as fires are still spreading under warm, dry conditions.
By midday, a new fire began in San Diego County even as fires elsewhere became partially contained.
The National Guard were mobilised, and Chicago's infamous Mayor Daley issued a 'shoot to kill' order as fires raged.
A Montana newspaper poll taken this summer as fires raged showed almost even numbers favoring tighter restrictions and favoring none.
The idea is to disseminate information on new disease outbreaks and other emergencies, such as fires or floods.
A makeshift refinery can ruin swathes of swampy bush, as fires lit beneath cauldrons of crude oil rage out of control.
So, as well as fires in recesses, you can find wall-mounted fires that hang like pieces of art or sit on pedestals and in various 3D structures.
