How Do Wildfires Spread?
If a spark happens in the presence of oxygen and fuel—such as dry grass, brush or trees—a fire can start. And conditions in the weather and environment can cause the fire to spread quickly. Fires need lots of fuel to grow. … For example, drought, winds and extreme heat can make a fire bigger, faster and more dangerous.
How fast does wildfire spread?
Wildfires have a rapid forward rate of spread (FROS) when burning through dense uninterrupted fuels. They can move as fast as 10.8 kilometres per hour (6.7 mph) in forests and 22 kilometres per hour (14 mph) in grasslands.