Factors associated with spatial scale of fire analysis. Depending on the spatial scale of analysis, non-climate related factors come into play. Typically, at the regional or subcontinental scale of analysis climate is the most important factor associated with regional fire synchrony. Factors such as topography and fuel load are more important at the watershed or stand level of analysis. That climate is seldom important at the level of an individual tree, but exceedingly important at the regional level underscores the need for sample and site replication and extensive networks of fire history analyses in order to elucidate the intricate relationships between fire and climate.