Ground, surface, and crown are the three basic types of wildland fires. You need to understand the behaviors of each of them. Only then can we understand their dangers, how they travel, and how they can be extinguished. Ground Wildfires Ground fires are mostly found in times of extreme drought. They burn with intense heat, which can mean they kill off even the largest of trees. It’s possible for them to spread fast as they take out all the fuel that surrounds them. Ground fires are important for the natural lifecycle of the environment, though. They sterilize the soil, which can be beneficial for certain types of plants. At the same time, they can be some of the most dangerous.