Shrubs and fire Fire is a serious threat to shrubs in dry climates. Some shrubs can resprout from their roots after their tops are destroyed. One study of resprouting took place in a dry area of Mexico.7 The investigators randomly assigned shrubs to treatment and control groups. They clipped the tops of all the shrubs. They then applied a propane torch to the stumps of the treatment group to simulate a fire. All 12 of the shrubs in the treatment group resprouted. Only 8 of the 12 shrubs in the control group resprouted.