When we think of fires, we often imagine a blaze that rages through forests or fields, leaving destruction in its wake before dying down, smoldering, and finally extinguishing. But what if the fire didn’t actually die? What if it lay dormant, hiding beneath the surface, only to reawaken when conditions are just right? This isn’t the plot of a horror movie—it’s the reality of “zombie fires.”
What Are Zombie Fires?
Zombie fires, also known as “holdover fires” or “overwintering fires,” are fires that seem to come back to life after being thought dead. While the visible flames are extinguished, embers smolder underground, particularly in peatlands or under layers of snow and ice, where they can burn slowly for months, even through winter. When conditions become favorable—typically in the warmer months—the fire resurfaces and reignites, creating new wildfires.
The term “zombie fire” is fitting for this eerie phenomenon: just like a zombie that rises from the grave, these fires re-emerge from beneath the earth, often catching firefighters and communities off guard.
How Do Zombie Fires Start?
Zombie fires are most commonly found in regions with vast peatlands, such as Siberia, Alaska, and parts of Canada, but they have been documented in many other fire-prone regions across the world. Peat is a highly organic, carbon-rich material that forms in wetland environments, and when it dries out during a fire season, it can smolder below the surface for an extended period.
The smoldering fire continues to consume organic matter underground, staying insulated from surface conditions. Even heavy rain or snow might not be enough to extinguish it because the peat can remain dry and flammable beneath the top layers. Once spring arrives and the snow melts, the fire can reignite on the surface, leading to new outbreaks.
Climate Change and the Rise of Zombie Fires
Zombie fires are not a new phenomenon, but they are becoming more frequent and widespread, and climate change is a major contributing factor. Rising global temperatures are causing longer and more intense wildfire seasons. In northern regions, warmer winters mean less snow cover, allowing the underground fires to persist through the cold months.
Furthermore, many regions are experiencing drier conditions, which means there’s more fuel for fires to burn. As climate change accelerates, we may see zombie fires becoming an increasingly common—and dangerous—problem.
Why Are Zombie Fires Dangerous?
Zombie fires pose several unique dangers. First, because they smolder underground, they are difficult to detect and can spread over a wide area unnoticed. Firefighters may think they have put out a fire, only for it to reappear months later in an unexpected place. This makes planning and managing wildfire prevention even more challenging.
Moreover, zombie fires are a significant source of carbon emissions. As they burn through carbon-rich peatlands, they release vast amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to the very climate change that is making them more prevalent. In some cases, these fires can burn for years, making them a persistent and long-term environmental threat.
What Can Be Done?
Dealing with zombie fires is no easy task. Because they burn underground, traditional firefighting methods like water or fire retardants are often ineffective. In many cases, the best way to combat them is through monitoring and prevention. Authorities in fire-prone regions are increasingly using satellite technology to detect heat signatures from smoldering fires, even when they are buried beneath snow or earth.
Efforts to mitigate the impact of zombie fires also tie into broader strategies for fighting climate change. Protecting peatlands, reducing carbon emissions, and managing forests more effectively can help reduce the conditions that allow zombie fires to thrive.
Conclusion
Zombie fires are a chilling reminder of the unpredictability and power of nature, especially in the context of a changing climate. These underground blazes, capable of reviving after months of dormancy, are becoming a growing concern in fire-prone regions across the globe. As we face longer fire seasons and more extreme weather patterns, understanding and preparing for phenomena like zombie fires will be essential to protecting our landscapes and communities.
In the face of this rising threat, we need to treat zombie fires not as isolated anomalies but as a sign of deeper ecological shifts. These “undead” fires, fueled by the warming climate, are a stark reminder that our battle with fire is far from over—even when it seems extinguished.
