Why have forest fires in ponderosa pine forests become more damaging to that ecosystem than they were historically?

Historically, frequent, low-intensity fires in ponderosa pine forests helped remove small trees and underbrush. Fire suppression prevents many of these fires, allowing vegetation and other fuels to build up. When a fire does occur, the extra fuel can make it burn hotter and cause more damage, so the correct choice is “Following a policy of fire suppression in these forests makes fires burn hotter.”

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.