PPolySim OS

Wildfire / Fire Spread

Wind and slope are the two forces that turn a spot fire into a running crown fire. Adjust both and watch the fire front elongate and race uphill in real time.

Wildfire / Fire SpreadLive

Controls

Presets

Fire spreads cell to cell, biased downwind and uphill — the two dominant drivers of real wildfire rate-of-spread. Rotate the wind and raise the slope to see how a fire front elongates and races upslope. For training and situational awareness only.

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Data Inspector

Cells burned0
Wind15 @ 90°
Slope10°

Governing equation

Reading this result: Moderate wind and slope: the fire spreads roughly outward, with a gentle bias downwind and uphill.

Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.

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How it works

This fire-behavior model spreads flame from cell to cell with probabilities biased downwind and upslope — the dominant drivers of real rate-of-spread. Built for wildland fire training, tabletop exercises, and public education. It is a qualitative teaching tool, not a certified fire-behavior prediction system.

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The math, the assumptions, real-world uses, or a code translation — explained for this exact simulation.

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Frequently asked questions

Is this wildfire spread simulator tool really free?
Yes. Wildfire / Fire Spread runs entirely in your browser using your device's own compute, so local use is free forever. You only pay Compute Tokens if you scale a job to the cloud.
Do I need to install anything?
No. Everything runs client-side in a modern browser — no downloads, no license, no account required to start.
Can I save or share my simulation?
Create a free account to save projects, and use a shareable embed or minted DOI to publish a live, interactive version anywhere.
How accurate are the results?
The solver uses established numerical methods, but results are for research and educational purposes and should be validated against experiment or professional review before you rely on them.