Ground fires spread across the grass and low-lying vegetation. Surface fires burn the trunks of trees as well as the grass and low-lying vegetation.
Crown fires are the most dangerous and destructive class of wildland fire.
Wildland fires appear to be very destructive to the wildland ecosystem . Wildland fires damage natural resources such as timber. They destroy livestock pastures and wildlife habitat, as well. In addition, the reduction in vegetation can lead to increased soil erosion because there are no longer living roots holding the soil in place. On top of all the negative impacts of wildland fires on the health of ecosystems, wildland fires also destroy the beauty of the environment.