eli5 How do waste(compost pile) ignite up without real fire touching them ?

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I have noticed smoke coming out of pile of waste without igniting them with fire, and it got me thinking, what is the science behind the phenomenon?

In: Mathematics

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Anonymous 0 Comments

Compost is actively decomposing thanks to the bacteria and fungi inside it, which generate a lot of heat. That heat can build up, pushing water out and eventually get something within the pile to smolder and eventually burn.

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