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In
The Know Experts tell us the general relationship between fuel and temperature is simple: the more fuel, the higher the heat. The more heat, the faster the fire spreads. When there is plenty of heat and fuel, fires pretty much take on a life of their own. In the words of one fire behavior expert, "Large fires live to feed themselves." Large fires can create their own winds and weather, increasing their flow of oxygen. A really large fire can generate hurricane-force winds, up to 120 miles an hour. The high temperatures "preheat" fuels in the fire's path, preparing them to burn more readily. When fires reach this stage, there is little that firefighters can do. Nature is in charge. http://www.nifc.gov/pres_visit/whatisfire.html |