Nature of wildfires: conditions favouring intense wild fires (vegetation type, fuel characteristics, climate and recent weather, fire behaviour)
Wildfires burn most intensely when the right conditions combine. Dry vegetation, large amounts of burnable material, hot dry climates, and strong winds all make fires spread faster and burn hotter.
Real World
California's 2020 wildfire season burned over 4 million acres partly because decades of fire suppression had allowed dense chaparral fuel to accumulate, combined with record-breaking heat and low humidity from climate change.
Exam Focus
Use the 'fire triangle' (fuel, oxygen, heat) as a framework to structure answers about conditions, ensuring you cover all three components.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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