Which of the following is an example of live fuel?

Which of the following is an example of live fuel?

• A. Green grasses
• B. Duff
• C. Fallen wood
• D. Litter

Answer: (A)

Live fuel means vegetation that is still living and capable of burning, not dead matter. Green grasses fit this because they are living plants with active moisture and tissue that can ignite and contribute to a fire when conditions allow. Duff, litter, and fallen wood are all dead fuels, composed of previously living material that has decayed or separated from the living plant community, so they don’t represent live fuel. Understanding this helps distinguish what can actively contribute to fire behavior while still alive versus what must first be heated to burn as dead material.

Live fuel means vegetation that is still living and capable of burning, not dead matter. Green grasses fit this because they are living plants with active moisture and tissue that can ignite and contribute to a fire when conditions allow. Duff, litter, and fallen wood are all dead fuels, composed of previously living material that has decayed or separated from the living plant community, so they don’t represent live fuel. Understanding this helps distinguish what can actively contribute to fire behavior while still alive versus what must first be heated to burn as dead material.