This Canadian wildfire season in numbers

Misinformation spreads faster than wildfires. Make sure you get your facts right. Here are some wildfire basics

Three elements are necessary to create and maintain a fire (8):

• Heat (i.e. energy)
• Fuel (i.e. anything that can burn)
• Oxygen

Removing any of these components will extinguish the fire. For example, water, retardant, or dirt can be used to reduce the temperature or cut the oxygen supply (7).

Now, once a wildfire has ignited, its behaviour depends on three factors (8):

• Fuel properties (i.e., size, arrangement, moisture, quantity)
• Weather (i.e., wind, rain, humidity, temperature)
• Topography (i.e., slope angle, sun’s orientation, obstacles)

While weather is the most variable and unpredictable factor, each can influence how the fire will burn and spread (8).

There are three types of wildfire, though they can occur simultaneously (7,14):

• Ground fires slowly combust the accumulated and compacted dead matter underground (without flame). They can burn for months unnoticed, including during winter (hence why they are sometimes referred to as “zombie fire” (15)).
• Surface fires only burn the top layer of soil and thus are easiest to control.
• Crown fires are the most dangerous and intense, because they burn vegetation up to its very top.

There are a lot of hot takes flying around about wildfires. When in doubt, ask yourself, “Is this right?” before sharing anything. Even better, ask us! We can help.

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Misinformation spreads faster than wildfires. Make sure you get your facts right. https://t.co/qY22zxG0Lj

Questions about claims you’ve seen online? We want to hear them!#ScienceUpFirst pic.twitter.com/duc1sBLYdT

— ScienceUpFirst | LaScienced’Abord (@ScienceUpFirst) August 23, 2023

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