Muck Fire
Muck Fire - this is a term I was unfamiliar with. Here is the definition from the Florida Division of Forestry (pdf):
A fire burning in or below the duff layer in soil containing decaying organic matter, such as peat. Muck fires usually occur in dry marshes or swamps during a drought. Muck fires are problematic because they may burn for days or weeks, creating a smoke hazard and creating a safety problem for fire fighters with undergrounds pockets of fire that can collapse under the weight of humans or machinery.
Here is a link to a USA Today story regarding muck fires.
Muck fires, such as this one near Veronica Estates, can haunt rural residents and firefighters for months. They can top 500 degrees, smolder as deep as the muck goes, burn for weeks and rekindle forest fires long after residents think the threat is gone.
Interesting stuff. It sounds like muck fires are a real booger to extinguish. Lots of digging, probably with heavy equipment.
We don't have muck fires in South Dakota. No swamps that would provide deep organic material. Do you have muck fires, or other special types of fires, in your area? Leave a comment and let us know.
Posted May 23, 2006 08:51 AM · Link
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