Fires in Nature Flashcards
What is a wildfire
Uncontrolled fires that occur in natural areas such as forests or grasslands
What are the three different types of wildfires
- Crown fire
- Surface fire
- Ground fire
What is the ladder effect
Dead vegetation that allows the fire to climb higher and create a crown fire
What are the characteristics of a surface fire
- Burns along the forest floor
- Burns leaf litter and fallen branches
- Burns around 900’C
- Cools quickly
- Relatively easy to control
What is the most common type of wildfire
Surface fire
What temperature does a surface fire burn at
900’C
What are the characteristics of a ground fire
- Burns organic matter in the soil (peat)
- Spreads slowly
- Smoulders at low temperatures
- Can burn for long periods of time
Do ground fires burn or smoulder ?
Ground fires smoulder
At what temperature do ground fires smoulder
540’C
Which type of wildfire is easier to contain
Surface fires
Which type of wildfire is most difficult to contain
Crown fires
What are the characteristics of a crown fire
- Burns through the canopy
- Can spread through loose bark, burning whole trees
- Burns at temperatures over 1100’C
- Most intense and dangerous
What does a surface fire burn
Leaf litter and fallen branches
What does a crown fire burn
Everything including the canopy
What does a ground fire burn/smoulder
Dead organic matter in the soil (peat)
Which wildfire is the most intense and dangerous
Crown fires
What temperature does a crown fire burn at
Over 1100’C
What are some human causes of wildfires
- Arson
- Deliberate controlled fires
- Agricultural fires
- BBQs / campfires
- Cigarettes
- Fallen powerlines
- Sparking train tracks
What are some physical causes of wildfires
- Lightning strikes (10% causes)
- Volcanic activity
- Lack of precipitation (drought)
- Type of vegetation (plants that contain flammable resin)
