03/30/2025
Reading Smoke – As firefighters, we can read the smoke and use it as an indicator of what is currently happening with a wildfire, as well as what might happen in the future. One specific factor we look for is the color of the smoke.
Smoke is the biproduct of whatever is burning. It can tell us the type and density of the fuels, as well as the progression of the burning process and how intense the fire might be.
White smoke is often the initial gas and water v***r being released, meaning the fire could just be starting to burn the fuels. It can also indicate a light vegetative fuel load, such as grass and small shrubs.
Black, dense smoke usually means the fuels are not being fully consumed. It can also mean manmade materials are contained in the fire, such as tires, vehicles, or structures.
Gray smoke typically means the fire is slowing down or running out of fuel to burn.
What are some other indicators you can read from smoke plumes?
