Which type of fire movement occurs more rapidly than crown fires?

Surface fires are characterized by their rapid movement across the forest floor, consuming low-lying vegetation such as grasses, shrubs, and small trees. This fire type generally moves faster than crown fires, which primarily involve the upper canopy of the forest and can be more intense but often require specific conditions to sustain their growth.

In many cases, surface fires can spread quickly due to the availability of fine fuels and favorable weather conditions, such as low humidity and high winds. This fast movement means that they can potentially move through an area before suppression efforts can be mobilized effectively, making understanding the behavior of surface fires critical for wildfire mitigation efforts.

Ground fires tend to smolder and burn organic material beneath the surface, such as peat and roots, leading to a slower rate of spread. Mixed fires may involve both surface and crown components but do not inherently imply a speed greater than that of surface fires. Creeping fires typically exhibit a slow-burning, low-intensity behavior, further confirming that surface fires are the type that moves more rapidly than crown fires.