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Muck fires are fires that burn underground. They are started (usually in late winter/early spring in Florida) when buried decomposing vegetation spontaneously combusts or is ignited by lightning strikes.

This happens during the dry season as the vegetation begins to dry out. Because heat is not transferred well in these conditions, areas that are still moist will produce heat from the process of decomposition. The heat accumulates to the point where it can ignite dryer material adjacent to the area of decomposition.

These fires can burn for weeks, and are extremely hard to extinguish. Most of the time they don't cause any problems, but occasionally the work their way to the surface, and can ignite material above the ground. But the majority of them just smolder under ground, and create a horrible odor that lasts for weeks.

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How are muck fires put out?

No, but you can slow it down with fire breaks and keeping the surrounding areas clear of dead brush, alert a local FD and let them handle the rest of the job. NEVER try to contain a muck fire alone. The cause of them is lightning storms, the lightning will strike the ground and cause the fire, but it strikes in a marsh type area, thus it being a muck fire, the muck underground is flammable, and it smolders. That's what causes the smoke in the air. Muck fires are DANGEROUS!


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