Aftermath of a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States

© Stephanie Coffman/Tandem Stills + Motion

Aftermath of a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States

Forest fires can be part of a healthy growth cycle in the wilderness. Most large nature areas actually benefit in the long run from wildfires that aren’t caused by human error. Not all of the trees in this section of Yellowstone National Park will survive the fire that ripped through this forest, but rangers and visiting scientists will monitor the aftermath, studying how quickly the forest recovers, and investigating how the fire moved through the region. That said, if you’re visiting a national park, check the fire danger level and any other warnings.