Wood ignites at temperatures in the hundreds of degrees. How are some wildfires supposedly started by sunlight without human action or lightning?

Question

Wood ignites at temperatures in the hundreds of degrees. How are some wildfires supposedly started by sunlight without human action or lightning?

In: 1508

Answer 1

It doesn’t need to get to hundreds of degrees. Very hot days and very dry conditions can lead to spontaneous combustion of other materials. “Hay can ignite if the internal core reaches as little as 130 degrees F.” That’s 55 degrees C. Once a little bit of fire starts, it spreads to the wood you mentioned.

Also, human intervention is not needed. Wildfires are normal, and a part of some healthy ecosystems. Some trees and plants have evolved over millions of years in conditions in which fire is common, and developed strategies to deal with it.

Source for hay: https://www.firerescue1.com/fire-products/wildland-fire-products/articles/from-pyrotechnics-gone-wrong-to-animal-electrocution-the-odder-ways-wildfires-ignite-v0XmrGlVY0ZMeNot/