A wildfire is an uncontrolled fire occurring in a natural setting such as forests, grasslands, brush land and tundra that spreads based on environmental conditions. These conditions include wind and topography.
A key factor in wildfire behavior is moisture: Fuels that are dry burn more easily. When the heat of the fire and the smoke from a wildfire pass over potential fuel, it dries out that fuel and makes it easier for the next stroke of lightning or ember to ignite it. The amount of oxygen in the fuel also impacts how easy it burns, with less oxygen allowing fuels to dry out faster.
The direction and strength of the wind also impact how a wildfire behaves. Wind can help or hinder the progress of a fire, depending on how it is managed. It can push the fire along, blowing the flames across the landscape, or it may halt the fire’s advancement, causing it to back down and die out.
The hotter and drier the environment becomes due to climate change, the more likely wildfires will occur. The increased frequency and intensity of wildfires can have a devastating impact on people and the local ecosystems. They can destroy homes and kill animals. And they can release harmful pollutants, like PM2.5 (particulate matter of 2.5 micrometers in size) into the air. These particles can increase a person’s risk of cancer. Follow your local fire officials’ orders to evacuate if they advise you to do so.