What can hot embers carried by the wind initiate?

Hot embers carried by the wind can initiate spot fires. This phenomenon occurs when small, flaming pieces of material are blown from an existing fire and land in nearby, unburned areas, potentially igniting them. Spot fires can happen even at some distance from the main fire, depending on wind conditions and the nature of the surrounding vegetation.

Understanding this is critical for fire investigators, as identifying spot fires can provide insights into the fire's spread and behavior. Spot fires can contribute to the complexity of controlling an overall fire event because they can create multiple fire fronts that need to be managed separately. In contrast, large-scale wildfires generally involve broader areas and are typically not initiated by small embers alone. Ground fires refer specifically to fires that burn underground materials, and controlled burns are intentionally set fires meant for management purposes.