Specifics of peat fires spreading and extinguishing in winter

Abstract

The article touches upon the analysis the number of peat fires in the Sverdlovsk region for the period from 2016 to 2021. It was found that the number of such fires in 2021 was 11,3 times higher than their average annual number over the past 5 years. It is noted that reason for the sharp increase in peat fires in 2021 is the accumulation of moisture deficiency in the soil and a decrease in the level of ground water. Steady ground fires led to the formation of many local peat fires in the autumn period, which continued to spread even after the snowfalls. In December 2021 28 active peat fires were recorded on the territory of the Sverdlovsk region. All peat fires can be conditionally divided into 2 types. The first type of peat fires is formed for lack of forest stand on the slope of the main drainage channel or on elevated relief elements. Smouldering in the hearth of this type spreads slowly forming cavities up to 2…9 m. The second type of the hearths is formed in the area of the peat deposit with the available forest stand. At the same time the smouldering foci expand under the roots of tree. The snow covering is not the reason for smouldering cessation. But rather maintains it by preserving the temperature to dry the adjacent layers of the peat. Peat fires should be extinguished by uprooting trees and mixing smouldering peat with snow and cold soil, followed by compaction to reduce temperature. Experimental extinguishing of peat fires in march 2022 showed that when using a bulldozer, it is possible to extinguish 0,5 of active foci in one shift.