In the passage, "The Secret of Everyday Things: Fire" fire plays a critical role. The struggle to keep fire alive was extremely difficult before the invention of matches. Write an essay about the impact matches or other fire-producing devices would have had on early life.

What are some of the practical ways we use fire in our daily lives?
How would our lives be affected without fire?
Identify potential dangers of using fire in practical purposes, and how can we mitigate that?