A great website that explores wildland firefighing. In the program, NOVA accompanies the men and women of a wildland firefighting crew known as the Arrowhead Hotshots as they battle one of the most destructive wildfire seasons ever, the summer of 2000. Here's what you'll find online:
The Producer's Story
How did NOVA's film crews get close-up footage of dangerously volatile, 100-foot-high crown fires in the far West? Here, a behind-the-scenes report from producer Judith Vecchione.
The World on Fire
Every year, wildfires rage across millions of acres on all continents save Antarctica. Using annotated satellite maps of Earth, view and review the 2000 fire season on six continents.
Outfitting Wildland Firefighters
In this interactive feature, take a closer look at two fully clad wildland firefighters and learn more about their specialized gear.
How Plants Use Fire
Some plants and animals have adapted to naturally occurring fire to such a degree that they can't live without it. In this article, fire historian Stephen Pyne investigates the wildlife-wildfire bond.
Glossary of Fire Terms
What's the difference between torching and candling? Blow-ups and flare-ups? Fire whirls and firestorms? Find out here.
Wildfire Simulator (Hot Science)
Use this simple fire-growth computer model, developed by NOVA Online, to see how conditions such as wind speed and direction can affect the spread of a wildland fire. Also, try your hand at using virtual firebreaks and backfires to control a wildfire.
On Fire (Hot Science)
This virtual laboratory lets you explore the basics of combustion, including how a fire ignites, what a flame is made of, and how burning molecules rearrange themselves.
Check it out!
