When water is dropped on a fire, it reduces the heat. Retardant, a thick, soupy substance, coats fuels, blocking them from oxygen. If you think of fighting fire in terms of breaking the fire triangle, then it s easier to understand the tactics of firefighters. 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.
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. When fires reach this stage, there is little that firefighters can do. Nature is in charge. Some of the fires this year in Montana and Idaho fit this category. Let s talk about fuel in a little more depth.