There are three basic variables that contribute to wildland fire behavior.  These variables are topography, weather, and fuels.  Learning about and understanding these three variables will make it much easier to understand  and predict fire behavior.  Each of these variables has it's own section in this tutorial, where it is described in depth.
 

I decided to make this page after sitting through a intro to wildland fire class taught by an older gentleman from the U.S. Forest Service.  He droned about fuel loadings and temperature inversions while I slept.  After 40 hours of this I woke up and got my red card (a red card is the identification you need to work a wildland fire that is being controlled by the Forest Service, BLM, BIA, etc).  So maybe after you sleep through the ramblings of an old Forest Service Guy you can look back at this tutorial and maybe it will all be a little clearer.

But wait.  What do I know about wildland fire and why should you listen to me?  Good question.  I've worked fire for 3 years now, since I was 18, for a private engine contractor out of Sheridan, Wy.  I've worked in more than half of the 50 states (pretty much everywhere except the Northeast).  I've logged 500+ hours on Type I fires (the largest and most complex fires), 500+ hours on Type II fires (smaller and less complex), and 100+  hours on Type III fires.  I've also logged 500+ hours of prescribed fire.  I'm working on my squad boss certification, as well as my engine boss certification.  I've enrolled in and completed S-130, S-131, and S-190 (Introduction to Wildland Fire, Standards for Survival); as well as S-290 (Intermediate Wildland Behavior).