Which type of fuels are located more than 6 feet above the ground?

• A. Ground fuels
• B. Canopy fuels
• C. Surface fuels
• D. Dead fuels

Answer: (B)

Understanding where fuels are located vertically helps explain fire behavior. Canopy fuels are the fuels found in the tree crowns and upper branches, far above the ground—typically more than six feet up. This high placement is what makes canopy fuels capable of supporting crown fires, which spread through the treetops and react strongly to wind.

Ground fuels sit below the soil and duff, including roots and mineral soil; surface fuels lie on the forest floor, such as litter and grasses. Dead fuels refer to fuels by moisture content (dead vs live), and their height isn’t the defining factor. So the fuels located more than six feet above the ground are canopy fuels.