Types of Forest Fires

In some forest ecosystems, forest fires are a natural occurrence, but in recent years, the fires have grown increasingly severe and widespread. Climate change-related hotter and drier weather as well as negligent land management encourage more frequent, massive, and intense forest fires.

Following are the types of Forest Fires: 

• Surface fire: A forest fire is typically a surface fire that spreads across the forest floor as senescent leaves and twigs, dried grasses, and other detritus.

• Underground Fire:  Underground fires are low-intensity fires that destroy organic material beneath the forest floor and the forest floor’s surface litter. On top of the mineral soil, a thick layer of organic material is found in the majority of dense woods. Typically, these flames start when such materials are consumed and spread underground for a few metres. This type of fire spreads very quietly, making it difficult to detect and control. Muck fires are also known as these types of fires as they can burn for months and destroy the soil’s vegetation.

• Ground fire: The fires occur in the organic substrates, such as the subsurface duff layers under forest stands, the tundra or taiga in the Arctic, or the organic soils in swampy or boggy areas. A smouldering underground fire can occasionally turn into a ground fire. It’s difficult to tell the difference between underground and ground fires. This fire burns the herbaceous growth on forest floors as well as the decaying organic layers, i.e., the fire burns the herbaceous growth on forest floors as well as the decaying organic layers. Smouldering combustion can cause severe harm when ground fires burn below the surface. Surface fires often spark ground fires. Ground fires can destroy vegetation completely.

• Crown fire: A crown fire is defined as a fire that burns the tops of trees and plants and is frequently generated by a surface fire. Because of the burning resinous substance shed by burning logs, these fires are especially dangerous in pine forests. Because warm air moves quickly uphill, spreading flames along the way, a fire that starts downhill on a steep slope is likely to spread uphill early. It’s less likely for a fire to spread downhill if it starts uphill.
• Firestorms: The most common forest fires are firestorms, which are large fires that spread quickly. Heat increases When the fire burns, causing heat to rise and air to rush in, causing the fire to spread. More air creates a fire that spins violently like a tornado, with flames shooting from its base and embers on top, igniting little fires all around it. Inside these storms, flame temperatures can exceed 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.