surface fire
Low-burning forest flames
A surface fire burns along the forest floor, consuming leaf litter, fallen branches, grasses, and low vegetation without reaching the tree canopy.
Surface fires contrast with crown fires, which spread through treetops, and ground fires, which burn in organic soil beneath the surface.
Many ecosystems depend on periodic surface fires to clear undergrowth and recycle nutrients.
- underburnControlled low-intensity burn
- flamesVisible burning combustion
- scorchingExtremely hot, burning
- creepingMoving slowly, stealthily
- smolderingBurning slowly, no flame
leaf litter · dry grass · wildfire · prescribed burn · firebreak · char · burn scar · smoke · crackling · spreading · forest floor · kindling · ash · embers · fuel load · burnout · mop up · blackened
surface, fire, surfaces, surfaced, surfacing, resurface, resurfaced, resurfacing, fires