Why does a camp fire get significantly hotter over the first hour, despite the volume of wood fuel remaining relatively constant?

Question

Why does a camp fire get significantly hotter over the first hour, despite the volume of wood fuel remaining relatively constant?

In: Physics

Answer 1

seconding bananajesus’ comment, and adding that:

really you’re not burning the wood, you are burning the wood gas forced from the wood by heat — more heat makes for more wood gas, and wood gas will react with oxygen (combust) more efficiently at higher temperature

the triangle of fire is HEAT + FUEL + OXYGEN