A severe fire, as mentioned above, may go to extreme heights and hence may look closer. I have often heard of cases where people are tricked into thinking the fire may be in a certain area even though it may be further away. Another point to consider is that in mountainous regions, it may be even more difficult to judge. A very intense fire normally occurs during periods of dry and windy weather. The region must have been without sufficient rain for at least a month or two, or under dry windy conditions for a similar time.
Severe fires result from strong winds.
The strong, dry winds supply fires with a much needed oxygen necessary for heat. Becuase of this intense heat, smoke from severe fires rise rapidly and high into the atmosphere. Generally, the darker and denser the smoke, the more severe the fire. Again, this depends on the type of forest material. This depends on the intensity of the fire.