Part of fire ecology is understanding fire and its interactions and uses within the ecosystem. All fires will have a severity level, which is the term used for ecologists to understand the impact one fire will have on the specific ecosystem. How do ecologists define the severity? There are a number of factors involved, but one of those ways is through the plant mortality rate. It’s important to understand the three burning levels. Ground Fires: These are the fires that will go through the rich soil. Surface Fires: These fires will burn through the dead plant material on the ground. Crown Fires: These fires burn at the tops of the trees and shrubs. In the majority of cases, ecosystems experience