In the very beginning, fire in the darkness ushers in the tale of Where the Red Fern Grows: “The dark, quiet atmosphere was a perfect setting for the mood I was in. I built a fire in the fireplace and pulled up my favorite rocker” (5-6). Later, fire is another comforting source, when Mama receives the prize money, realizing that her prayers have been answered: “A peaceful silence settled over the room. I could hear the clock ticking away. The fire in the fireplace crackled and popped” (219).

The warmth of the life-giving fire also symbolizes a primal connection to nature, as well as the struggle with it. This inspires and influences the story. When Billy camps out in Robber’s Cave with the hounds on his way home with them for the first time, his fire keeps the mountain lion from attacking them. A fire also warms the hounds and Grandpa when during the competition storm. Thus, fire is a source of comfort as well as a tool for human interaction with the wild.