Muck Fires

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Muck Fires

• Definition and Photographs

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What is a muck fire?

• During drought, fires can become intense and
• long-lived if the organic portion (dead plant
  matter) of the soil begins to burn creating hard-
• to-control muck fires. Muck is soil rich in
  carbon-based compounds from dead plants and
  organisms, usually more than a third of the soil
  content. These muck fires can be more difficult
  to control than marsh muck fires because of the
  massive amounts of fuel accumulation. Muck fires
  also produce a lot of smoke which is a potential
  health and traffic hazard.

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Muck ignites from the burning brush above and
from lightning strikes. Enough oxygen penetrates
the parched, loosely packed peat, causing
underground embers to smolder for weeks. The muck
can cook and kill roots, causing trees to topple.
After their leaves dry out, they kindle more
brush and the downed trees themselves.
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Firefighters cut fire breaks around the muck and
till up the ground so they can see the glowing
hot spots and soak them. Sometimes it takes
several days of constant dousing to cool the muck.
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