A three year study of African chimps conducted by primatologist Jiell Pruetz from the University of Iowa has shown that chimpanzees have mastered the first stage of controlling a fire. It appears that chimps are more dextrous and agile in predicting fire behavior than human beings. Although most animals are distressed and show fear in the presence of fire, chimpanzees appear to predict the movement of wildfires and appear to dodge fires much more efficiently than humans. Interestingly, part of the social behavior of chimpanzees includes performing a "fire" dance which is lead by the leader of the group.
The author concludes that sometime along evolution human beings developed and harnessed this behavior that led to our ability to master fire. Also, chimps are apparently more fearless in the presence of wildfires; does that mean that brain replaced brawn througout the course of evolution?