Ground Fire

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Wildfire Knowledge Graph · Fire Behaviour

Working definition

Fire that burns organic material below the surface, including duff, roots or peat.

In plain language

Ground fire may smoulder with limited visible flame and remain active for long periods.

Why it matters

Subsurface heat can survive apparent extinction and later re-emerge, complicating detection and mop-up.

Primary terminology sourceOpen official reference ↗

Tecnobosque explanation reviewed 12 September 2026. Source definitions are authoritative within their stated jurisdiction; the explanatory text above is an independent technical synthesis.