Wildfire behavior
What is fire behavior?
The way fires burn -- their behavior -- depends on weather, terrain and fuels.
Hot dry and windy weather, mountain slopes, and more vegetation or fuels -- all make fires burn faster and hotter.
Embers are tiny burning pieces that can start new fires when they land.
Hotter fires make more embers that travel farther. An "ember storm" is where there are lots of embers. Fires start fast in an ember storm.
Why does it matter?
The hotter and faster the fire, the harder it is to control or put out and the more likely it is to burn your home, property and surrounding forests.
When you understand how and why fire behaviors different ways, you can make better choices on how to reduce fuels so wildfire is less damaging. It behaves better!
Understanding how wildfire behaves saves homes and lives!
Learn more
The basics
-
Your Home Can Survive a Wildfire – NFPA video highlighting ignition vulnerability.
- Defensible Space and Zone Zero Save Lives and Homes - presentation from Nevada County OES
Forest Treatments Change Fire Behavior and Effects on the Caldor Fire
KCRA -Forest Management Makes a Difference - Video from KCRA - Caldor Fire, 2021
Reduce Fuels and the Basics of Fire Behavior
Watch a presentation by JoAnn Fites-Kaufman on different ways to reduce fuels and the basics of fire behavior. She explains how different choices such as green waste or chipping changes fire behavior—how big the flames are and intensity. Made at a meeting of three FWCs in the Deer Creek area.
A retired US Forest Service fire scientist with over 30 years on wildfires and prescribed burns. Board Chair of Fire Safe Nevada County Coalition.