I have reviewed, but briefly, the extremely abundant literature on coal formation with reference to the occurrence, development, and characteristics of fossil charcoal, 'fusain.' The findings in petrology, the science of coal formation and development, show that fusain, a fossil charcoal, is similar, if not identical, with charcoal produced by present forest fires. The petrologists are in agreement, with very few exceptions, that fusain was produced by natural (lightning and spontaneous combustion) fires and that the same coal forming processes and principles that occurred in the past geological ages continue to operate today.The petrologists are apparently all in agreement that many, if not most, of the coal deposits from the Carboniferous through the Tertiary were formed under situations quite similar to those that occur in the southeastern states today. They have, by analogy, compared present day vegetation complexes and situations with those that have occurred in past coal forming periods. Without exception, the conditions and vegetations that they have used analogously in the formation of coal and fusain are situations and vegetations that we consider as 'fire environments' and 'fire types' in the South today.The evidence in the science of coal formation, petrology, abundantly proves that natural fires have been present throughout the coal forming periods, from the Carboniferous to the present.I have speculated that forest fires and their consequent 'debris' such as fossil charcoal, ash, etc. may in themselves be an important, and even perhaps a necessary ingredient in coal formation.