I learned some interesting facts regarding fire in our last geography class. We watched a documentary by CBC, part of a series called, “The Nature of Things.” I’ve seen other videos from this series with David Suzuki, and the majority are very intriguing. The one we watched on fire did not disappoint. I didn’t realize there were many mysteries regarding fire, like how exactly it spreads and why certain houses can stay standing while ones right next to them burn to the ground. I learned how fire spreads horizontally, and that the reason it spreads horizontally is due in part to cold air pushing the flame down towards the fuel next to it, causing it to catch fire and spread. I also learned that fire travels faster uphill, partly because the hot gases from the flame travel against the slope a bit before they rise, heating up the material and making it even easier to catch fire from the flame next to it. A lot if our furniture today are made with synthetic, oil-based material that are highly flammable, compared to what furniture was made with in the past. Additionally, a wildfire cannot cross a road, but embers can, and its those very embers that often threaten homes by sparking fires on lawns and backyards. The video was a great way to learn about wildfires and end the class on a good note.
Care for some tea?