38 CHAPTER 3 Fire as a Physical Process

Abstract

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. In many California ecosystems, the process of decomposition is too slow to completely oxidize accumulated organic material, and another process, such as fire, steps in to perform that role. The mediterranean climate in California, with its hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters, is not conducive to decomposition. When it is warm enough for decomposer organisms to be active, it’s too dry. Conversely, when it’s wet enough, it’s too cold. As a result, decomposition is unable to keep up with the deposited material, and organic debris begins to accumulate. This debris becomes fuel available for the inevitable fire that will occur. All that is needed is a sufficient amount of fuel, an ignition source, and weather conditions conducive to burning. In this chapter we will look at fire as a physica