Introduction

Everyone involved with prescribed fire must have a basic understanding of fire behavior. You must know what the fire is doing and is likely to do at all times to maintain control of the fire and ensure the safety of yourself and the rest of the crew. Because you are literally working “in the line of fire,” safety is always the ultimate concern.

Fire is a chemical reaction that breaks down organic fuels and, in the process, releases enough energy to sustain the reaction. In natural cover fires, plants are the fuel. They have significant quantities of solar energy stored in both living and dead materials. This is the energy released during a fire.