Thru many experiments in recent years in both S. Africa and Australia it has been discovered that it is not the fire but the smoke that breaks the dormancy for seeds. This occurs frequently here in S. Calif. A recent fire (last fall) near here (La Costa) caused the sprouting of many species not seen in years. A few years ago there was a fire in the Torrey Pines reserve. That winter and spring thousands of Torrey pines were sprouting. Nature certainly has wonderful ways. After all, there is no sense in germinating if you can't get any sunlight!! Joe