According to NFPA, what is the primary characteristic of wildland fires?

The primary characteristic of wildland fires is vegetative fuel. Wildland fires occur in areas where there is an abundance of vegetation, including grasses, shrubs, trees, and other plant materials, which are capable of igniting and burning. This type of fuel is crucial because it directly influences how a fire behaves, spreads, and can be controlled. Vegetative fuel types differ significantly from synthetic fuels, which are man-made and typically found in urban environments. Organic material encompasses a broader category, including decomposed plant and animal matter, but it is the living or dead vegetation that primarily acts as fuel for wildfires. Outdoor environments accurately describe the setting for wildland fires, but it is the presence of vegetative fuel that fundamentally defines and characterizes the nature of these fires.