Bit of history, the first explorers that sailed up and down the East coast thought that Australia was a land of volcano's there was that much smoke over the land. As we know now, it was the Aborigines burning the land in front of them as they migrated from place to place. No CFS or water-bombers back then, no CSIRO or greenies saying that the fire is too hot or that it has burned too long and has to be stopped! We don't have any really old (300 years) trees in OZ, but many of our eucalyptus trees could reach this age. The first explorers that moved inland across the Great Dividing Range cut down trees for housing and kicked off the timber industry. They found some big trees but not many, no really old trees as seasonal burning at migration times killed them off and their seeds. After centuries of seasonal burning and fires caused by lighting strikes, some trees actually need a fire to set their seeds in the nutrient rich ash!
Burning by the Aborigines cleared their migratory pathways and allowed them to wander back months later and pick the green shoots that had sprouted post fire. This seasonal burning also stopped really hot, intense fires that we have seen in the last few decades from starting as the mass of underbrush and forest floor litter was kept to a minimum.
Big hot fires destroy plants, animals, homes and people, however, the smaller fires clear the way for regrowth and do more good than harm. Smaller fires move slowly allowing animals that can, to run ahead or to the sides of the fire, those that can climb stay above the flames and others burrow staying out of danger.
Burning by the Aborigines cleared their migratory pathways and allowed them to wander back months later and pick the green shoots that had sprouted post fire. This seasonal burning also stopped really hot, intense fires that we have seen in the last few decades from starting as the mass of underbrush and forest floor litter was kept to a minimum.
Big hot fires destroy plants, animals, homes and people, however, the smaller fires clear the way for regrowth and do more good than harm. Smaller fires move slowly allowing animals that can, to run ahead or to the sides of the fire, those that can climb stay above the flames and others burrow staying out of danger.
layful: 
