What is Fire?

Fire is the chemical reaction that converts fuel and oxygen into carbon dioxide, water, and heat. It’s the same process that happens when a cut apple turns brown, silver tarnishes, or an iron nail rusts. This reaction releases energy as the atoms in the molecules rearrange themselves, which is why fire feels hot. It also causes the vapor and glowing emissions we call flames.

The color of a fire depends on its temperature, but most of the colour comes from the chemicals in the fuel. Different kinds of fuel have different chemical reactions with oxygen, which produce different colours. When the fuel reaches its ignition temperature, it starts to burn, and the reaction continues as long as there is enough fuel, oxygen, and heat.

Many plants and animals depend on the effects of fire. The seeds of lodgepole pine trees are contained in pine cones that require burning to release them, and some wildflowers like the Karner blue butterfly caterpillar (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) only grow in areas where fire has been recently present. Even in areas that have not been burned, smoldering logs can provide food for birds and other animals.

Humans have used fire for thousands of years to cook food, clear land, build shelter, and generate light. Fire is the basis for most of the civilizations we know of, and has helped us advance in technology and science.

In the earliest days, fire was a dangerous and unpredictable force that could destroy everything in its path. Early humans realized that it could be controlled, and they developed techniques for keeping it safe. They built huts with flammable materials, and kept a perpetual fire that was cared for by the Vestal Virgins.

Today, we can control fire with things like sprinkler systems, but it’s still a powerful force that needs to be treated with respect. Most home fires are caused by accidents, not nature, and the vast majority of those are preventable. By following a few simple tips, you can help keep your family and home safer.

Keeping up with the chores of building a fire—chopping wood, gathering tinder and kindling, and constantly feeding it—provides a number of health benefits that are often overlooked. A recent study found that chopping wood and sitting by the fire can lower blood pressure as much as a sedentary activity such as watching TV. And, of course, regularly tending to the fire can get you outside in the sun, which is great for your vitamin D intake. Just 15 minutes of outdoor exposure will trigger the process that produces vitamin D in your skin cells. Getting a lot of this vitamin is key to healthy bones and immune system.