How does topography affect fire behavior?

Topography plays a significant role in fire behavior by influencing both fuels and their availability for combustion. Variations in the landscape, such as slopes, valleys, and ridges, can affect how fuel types are distributed across an area. For instance, fuels may accumulate in certain areas due to gravitational effects or water runoff, leading to increased fuel availability and higher fire intensity.

Additionally, topography can also impact the microclimate of a location, including temperature and humidity levels, which further influences how easily certain types of fuels will ignite and burn. Areas with steep slopes can experience faster rates of fire spread because flames can preheat fuels above them, increasing the likelihood of ignition. Thus, acknowledging the role of topography in influencing both the characteristics and distribution of fuels is crucial in understanding fire dynamics and behavior in wildland fires.