[Author provides historical/cultural background for use of fire; also discusses negative attitudes toward fire. Summarizes use of fire in various regions and vegetation types to improve wildlife habitat, suppress growth of undesirable species, manage forests, grasslands, savannas, and grasslands.] From the text: 'Many additional citations could be made where fire may be a useful and sometimes necessary tool in land management. In some fields the dogma referred to by Dr. Curtis still prevails but continued research and experimentation have so broadened our knowledge of the effects of fire on the environment that much interest is now evident in the development of techniques to make fire a safer tool in the management of forest, grassland, and wildlife.'