Fueling Collaboration Panel Discussion Series - Session 6.2

Fueling Collaboration is a series of interactive panel discussions designed to connect fire managers and researchers. Each discussion is built on questions from registered attendees. We are working to bring people together to discuss, explore, and address the latest fire science and fire management issues across the eastern United States.

December 11, 2025 - Session 6.2 of the Fueling Collaboration Panel Discussion Series took place with an auditory examination of fire. The session was entitled "Do You Hear What I Hear?" - A Sensory Portrait of Wildland Fire.

People usually focus on the visual aspects of fire, and the smell of smoke, but we rarely appreciate how we use, or should use, our other senses to describe or even identify fire effects. Sound is a fundamental part of our experience when interacting with the world around us and is so fundamental that we often forget to question what it is we are really hearing. Our long relationship with all aspects of fire, including the sounds of fire, are deeply intuitive and yet also elusive. What is creating the crackling sound we hear when vegetation burns? What is that sound really telling us about the exchange between vegetation and fire? What sounds are involved that lead to a safe or unsettling feeling when around wildland fire? In this Panel we will take a dive into the acoustical dance between vegetation and fire, where is this sound really coming from and what is it really telling us, and what else is going on besides what we hear.

Simply click on the video above to view the session. If you wish to learn more about the Fueling Collaboration Panel Discussion Series such as upcoming sessions or view past season offerings please click the button below.

Fueling Collaboration Website