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Message: <blockquote data-quote="The Shaman" data-source="post: 2860721" data-attributes="member: 26473">One terrain feature that can make a wildfire encounter really hairy is a canyon.Canyons are referred to as chimneys by wildland firefighters - wind moves up canyon during the day and down canyon at night, and where the wind goes, so does the fire, assuming adequate fuel.A fire on one side of a canyon can pre-heat the fuel on the other side - if a wind shift (such as a passing cold front) turns the fire toward the pre-heated slope, or if flaming embers start a new fire on the pre-heated slope (called spotting) across the canyon, both sides of the canyon can erupt in flame. The most extreme example of this is called a blowup, creating a situation in which hundreds of acres can burn in a matter of minutes. The fire front at the South Canyon Fire in 1994 moved up the canyon at an estimated 18 mph, trapping twelve firefighters.Notice that the 18 mph figure is about the same rate of fire spread as described in the SRD, which actually highlights the problem with the SRD value: a blowup is the one of the most extreme fire behaviors that wildland fires produce, resulting from a very specific combination of fuel, weather, and topography.Another effect of fires already mentioned is the impact on wildlife, but remember that domestic animals will be affected as well - horses may become skittish, requiring Handle Animal checks to maintain control. A failed skill check could result in the animal refusing to move except away from the fire, or the mount could attempt to flee, carrying along the hapless rider (who must make Ride checks at a penalty to avoid being tossed).</blockquote>

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