The last decade has seen a rapid growth in research in Amazonian fires, stimulated by the prominence of fire events during El Nino years and other climate anomalies, and the ongoing use of fire as a tool in land speculation and deforestation. This talk will synthesize some of the key findings from fire research, examining how this has accompanied the recent history of fire in the Amazon, from the first research in the 1980s to the present day. It will demonstrate the importance of understanding what is burning for quantifying impact and developing solutions. Finally, it will examine some research priorities, focusing on the knowledge gaps that are hindering the development of better fire management.