The Physics of Fire (02:51)On average, about 8 million acres of land burns each year from wildfires. Big fires can reduce forests and grasslands to ash and can destroy homes and lives. Sadly, up to 90 percent of wildland fires in the United States are caused by humans’ carelessness, like unattended campfires, burning trash or waste, tossed-out cigarettes, and arson. The remaining 10 percent are usually started by lightning. Controlling and fighting fires isn’t easy. But knowing the science behind a burning blaze helps firefighters tackle the heat and flames to help save property, land and lives. Did you know wildfires often want to move uphill? It’s all part of the physics of how fires start and spread.
Wildfires: Fierce Earth (Series 1) (27:26)The Fierce Earth team investigates wildfires and discover how they rage all over the world, leaving a trail of devastation and destruction. We travel to Colorado and meet one of the youngest female fire fighters in the U.S., who has been on the front line and tackled wildfires head on after her house and part of her neighborhood was burnt down. Zoe experiences first-hand what it feels like to try and outrun a wildfire and Leo's challengedto see how long he can survive in raging heat of up to 800 degrees in a special fire chamber experiment. A BBC Production. A part of the series Fierce Earth (Series 1).