10 Facts About Fire

Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products.

Fire is an important process that affects ecological systems around the globe.

Fire has been used by humans in rituals, in agriculture for clearing land, for cooking, generating heat and light, for signaling, propulsion purposes, smelting, forging, incineration of waste, cremation, and as a weapon or mode of destruction.

Fire cannot exist without all of these elements in place and in the right proportions.

Fire can be extinguished by removing any one of the elements of the fire tetrahedron.

Fire creates a mosaic of different habitat patches, each at a different stage of succession.

Fire science is a branch of physical science which includes fire behavior, dynamics, and combustion.

Fire became more abundant when grasses radiated and became the dominant component of many ecosystems, around ; this kindling provided tinder which allowed for the more rapid spread of fire.

Fire has been used for centuries as a method of torture and execution, as evidenced by death by burning as well as torture devices such as the iron boot, which could be filled with water, oil, or even lead and then heated over an open fire to the agony of the wearer.

Fire is used to provide mechanical work directly, in both external and internal combustion engines.