Ember storms are a direct result of the weather within an extreme fire plume. With strong winds and near zero fuel moisture content it is easy for embers to form and to blow across the ground. They form a layer about one metre deep, and any object that sticks up into that layer is attacked by these embers and potentially ignited. Compact surface fuel layers (such as eaten-out paddocks) may not ignite. An ember storm results in numerous spot fires that rapidly merge. The embers flow like a river, following a path of least resistance. This is a primary cause of seemingly indiscriminate house loss patterns. Urban features such as gardens and mulch beds, when ignited, can produce new embers re-invigorating the ember storm.
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