It needs to be grazed to stay healthy. The travelling herds used to do that, but now the government owns most of the land and they won’t let anyone do anything with it (or to it) so the fuel load continues to build and the grass is not as healthy as it would be if it were grazed.
Grazing actually makes the grass more healthy and nutritious for the wild animals that live there. I see more Deer in the late Summer on the cow pasture even though there is taller grass on the other side of the fence. The grass in the pasture is more lush and healthier and the deer know that.
So the grass is greener on the other side of the fence!
proof to your point...before now...no fire in this area for 40 years