Fire, a common natural phenomenon today, was not present in the planet’s early life, unthinkable right? Researchers suggest that for about 4 billion years, Earth’s atmosphere lacked sufficient oxygen to support any fire. The situation changed around “470 million years ago during the Ordovician period when plants began to flourish, gradually increasing oxygen levels in the atmosphere. Fires were still pretty rare due to limited plant biomass and the absence of an ignition source” according to iflscience.com.
The evolution of certain plants, “particularly those with woody tissue, significantly impacted fire’s potential. About 360 million years ago, plants evolved lignin, a complex organic polymer that enabled them to grow tall and sturdy. This innovation led to more abundant plant material, setting the stage for fire to become a regular occurrence.” The development of organisms that could digest and break down lignin further influenced fire dynamics. Termites, fungi, and other decomposers played an important role in starting the availability of flammable material.
So, in simple words, for most of Earth’s really, really long life, there was no fire. It only became common when plants got bigger and stronger, and when other tiny creatures helped break down plant material. This history helps us understand how fire became such an important part of our world.
If this summary of the article interests you, here’s the link to read more about it: https://www.iflscience.com/for-billions-of-years-there-was-no-fire-on-earth-71291