The impact of fire on soil-dwelling biota: A review

•Fire is a disruptive event for terrestrial ecosystems, especially for their living component.•Fire effects on soil-dwelling biota are chiefly related to fire severity and frequency.•Severe burning upsets the soil environment, and this can be more deleterious than direct killing.•Most organisms recolonize the burned soil if land use is not changed and erosion is limited.•Fire is a tremendous driver of ecosystem’s biodiversity.