Fire ecology is
a.
an old branch of science
b.
a way for scientists to prevent accidental wildfires
c.
the study of how fire affects ecosystems
d.
all of the above

Fire Ecology is the study of how wildland fires start and how it relates and affects the ecosystems around it (Answer choice C). Though its applications may be used to devise ways to prevent wildfires, this branch of science focuses mostly on what the effects of a wildfire will be to the environment, accidental or not.