Weather Words: Spot Fires

Wildfires can be incredibly difficult to contain and one of the main reasons for that is because of spot fires. Winds can easily carry embers far away from the main fire and land in an unburned area where dry brush is present, igniting a brand new fire called a spot fire.

Spot fires are extremely unpredictable and make wildfire containment very hard. Even when a fire appears under control, these embers can smolder and reignite new fires in unexpected locations. This is why evacuation orders and fire safety precautions often extend beyond the immediate fire zone.

The stronger the winds, the further these embers can travel away from the initial wildfire. Sometimes, embers can travel miles away, before starting a new fire. One of California’s most deadly and destructive wildfires was the Camp Fire in 2018.

This is why it’s extremely important to pay attention to local law enforcement. Make sure you evacuate, should an evacuation order be given, because you never know where a spot fire might ignite.

Jennifer Gray is a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.