# How a wildfire starts, spreads and is stopped

> A process map exported from forks.world (https://forks.world). Author: Brian. Source: https://forks.world/p/cmv21yb180020if06esh9igcc
> It describes who does what, in what order, and with which technology. Read the plain-language sections first; the JSON at the end is the exact, complete data.

## Summary

- 11 steps across 1 layer
- Persona: The spark, The fire, Firefighters, The community

## Pain points

Where this process hurts, worst first:

- **Defend structures and fight the flames** (How a wildfire starts, spreads and is stopped; critical): Heat can ignite homes from embers a mile away

## How to read this file

- A process is made of **layers**. The main layer is the top level; any step of kind `subprocess` opens a detail layer with its own lanes and steps.
- **Lanes** are either persona (people/roles) or technology (systems). Each step belongs to one lane; `using` lists tools a person uses for that step.
- Step kinds: `start`, `task`, `decision` (its arrows carry the answer as a label), `subprocess`, `end`.

## How a wildfire starts, spreads and is stopped

Lanes:
- The spark: person / role (id `spark`)
- The fire: person / role (id `fire`)
- Firefighters: person / role (id `crews`)
- The community: person / role (id `community`)

Steps, in the order they run:

1. **Lightning or a human spark meets dry brush** [start; The spark; id `w1`]
   - then Fire catches in dry grass and trees
2. **Fire catches in dry grass and trees** [task; The fire; id `w2`]
   - then Wind and slope push it faster
3. **Wind and slope push it faster** [task; The fire; id `w3`]
   - then Spot the smoke and send crews
4. **Spot the smoke and send crews** [task; Firefighters; id `w4`]
   - then Dig firebreaks and drop water or retardant from the air
5. **Dig firebreaks and drop water or retardant from the air** [task; Firefighters; id `w5`]
   - then Evacuation orders go out
6. **Evacuation orders go out** [task; The community; id `w6`]
   - then Is the fire reaching houses?
7. **Is the fire reaching houses?** [decision; The fire; id `w7`]
   - if "Yes" go to Defend structures and fight the flames; if "No" go to Weather turns, humidity rises
8. **Defend structures and fight the flames** [task; Firefighters; id `w8`] ⚠ PAIN POINT (critical): Heat can ignite homes from embers a mile away
   - then Weather turns, humidity rises
9. **Weather turns, humidity rises** [task; Firefighters; id `w9`]
   - then Fire is contained and then put out
10. **Fire is contained and then put out** [task; The fire; id `w10`]
   - then Rebuild and clear brush to cut the next fire risk
11. **Rebuild and clear brush to cut the next fire risk** [subprocess; The community; id `w11`], links to the published process "How the greenhouse effect warms the planet" (https://forks.world/p/cmv21no7c000rl206gixiewbq; full text at https://forks.world/api/public/cmv21no7c000rl206gixiewbq/export)
   - (no next step recorded)

```mermaid
flowchart LR
  subgraph l_spark["The spark"]
    n_w1(["Lightning or a human spark meets dry brush"])
  end
  subgraph l_fire["The fire"]
    n_w2["Fire catches in dry grass and trees"]
    n_w3["Wind and slope push it faster"]
    n_w7{"Is the fire reaching houses?"}
    n_w10["Fire is contained and then put out"]
  end
  subgraph l_crews["Firefighters"]
    n_w4["Spot the smoke and send crews"]
    n_w5["Dig firebreaks and drop water or retardant from the air"]
    n_w8["Defend structures and fight the flames"]
    n_w9["Weather turns, humidity rises"]
  end
  subgraph l_community["The community"]
    n_w6["Evacuation orders go out"]
    n_w11[["Rebuild and clear brush to cut the next fire risk"]]
  end
  n_w1 --> n_w2
  n_w2 --> n_w3
  n_w3 --> n_w4
  n_w4 --> n_w5
  n_w5 --> n_w6
  n_w6 --> n_w7
  n_w7 -->|"Yes"| n_w8
  n_w7 -->|"No"| n_w9
  n_w8 --> n_w9
  n_w9 --> n_w10
  n_w10 --> n_w11
```

## Full data (JSON)

```json
{
  "title": "How a wildfire starts, spreads and is stopped",
  "maps": {
    "m_root": {
      "id": "m_root",
      "lanes": [
        {
          "id": "spark",
          "name": "The spark",
          "type": "person"
        },
        {
          "id": "fire",
          "name": "The fire",
          "type": "person"
        },
        {
          "id": "crews",
          "name": "Firefighters",
          "type": "person"
        },
        {
          "id": "community",
          "name": "The community",
          "type": "person"
        }
      ],
      "steps": [
        {
          "id": "w1",
          "kind": "start",
          "lane": "spark",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "w2"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Lightning or a human spark meets dry brush"
        },
        {
          "id": "w2",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "fire",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "w3"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Fire catches in dry grass and trees"
        },
        {
          "id": "w3",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "fire",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "w4"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Wind and slope push it faster"
        },
        {
          "id": "w4",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "crews",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "w5"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Spot the smoke and send crews"
        },
        {
          "id": "w5",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "crews",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "w6"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Dig firebreaks and drop water or retardant from the air"
        },
        {
          "id": "w6",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "community",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "w7"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Evacuation orders go out"
        },
        {
          "id": "w7",
          "kind": "decision",
          "lane": "fire",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "w8",
              "label": "Yes"
            },
            {
              "to": "w9",
              "label": "No"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Is the fire reaching houses?"
        },
        {
          "id": "w8",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "crews",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "w9"
            }
          ],
          "pain": {
            "note": "Heat can ignite homes from embers a mile away",
            "level": 3
          },
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Defend structures and fight the flames"
        },
        {
          "id": "w9",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "crews",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "w10"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Weather turns, humidity rises"
        },
        {
          "id": "w10",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "fire",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "w11"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Fire is contained and then put out"
        },
        {
          "id": "w11",
          "kind": "subprocess",
          "lane": "community",
          "link": {
            "id": "cmv21no7c000rl206gixiewbq",
            "scope": "public",
            "title": "How the greenhouse effect warms the planet"
          },
          "next": [],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Rebuild and clear brush to cut the next fire risk"
        }
      ],
      "title": "How a wildfire starts, spreads and is stopped",
      "parent": null
    }
  }
}
```