Fire Behavior

What makes some wildfires burn so hot and others not?  What makes fires spread fast one day and slow on another day?  A wildfire behaves according to the environment in which it is burning.  This environment consists of various elements of fuels, topography and weather.  These elements and their reactions with one another - and the fire itself - determine the behavior of the fire.

FUEL

WEATHER

TOPOGRAPHY

There are many elements under each of the three major components of the fire’s environment that affect how a fire behaves.  A change in any one of these elements will cause a change in the behavior of the fire--and this change can be very abrupt and rapid. 

We have learned how fires start and spread.  We will now study fire behavior.  Even though all the various elements interact and affect each other, we will study each of the major elements individually so we can more readily understand how they affect fire behavior.

A thorough understanding of the three major components, fuel, weather, and topography is essential to the job of planning and managing a prescribed burn.  The ignition pattern and method also impacts prescribed fire behavior and effect.  (See the ignition segment under Fire Management)

IGNITION PATTERN

IGNITION METHOD

The Atmosphere and Weather

Weather Elements that Affect Fire Behavior

Drought

Fuel's Effect on Fire Behavior

Topography's Effect on Fire Behavior

Effects of Various Parameters

Fire Behavior Models

Fire Behavior Questions

1.  What three factor or categories of factors affect fire behavior?
2.  What two additional factor impact prescribed fire behavior