What is Fire?
{{More sources}}[[File:Large bonfire.jpg|thumb|A large fire]] [[File:Streichholz.jpg|thumb|150px|A [[matches|match]] on fire]] [[File:FIRE 01.JPG|thumb|The campfire]] '''Fire''' is a [[chemical reaction]] that gives off [[light]] and [[heat]]. Fire happens when a material rapidly [[oxidization|oxidizes]], or loses [[electron|electrons]], and releases a great amount of energy. [[flame|Flames]] are only the portion of the fire that gives off visible light. Fire is sometimes useful, but also very dangerous because it can cause houses, trees and other things to burn to ashes. [[Wildfire|Forest fires]] are very harmful. They can destroy a huge area in a matter of minutes. Every year people die by accidents from fire. Fire can be started by heating a material in many different ways. Once the material is heated past a temperature called the ignition point, it will start to burn, beginning a fire. Some common ways to start a fire include rubbing sticks together very rapidly, making sparks by hitting [[flint]] with steel, or using matches or a lighter. The [[Sun]] does not make fire. Instead, it crushes together [[hydrogen]] atoms to release energy through a process called [[nuclear fusion]]. == Uses == Fire can be very useful if it is treated carefully. It has always been very important for people to be able to make fire. People need its heat to keep warm on cold days. It is also used to cook meats. Its light helped people see in dark places and scare away predators. Most [[heat engine]]s work by fire. == Danger == If human [[skin]] touches fire, the skin may burn, which can take some time to heal and to remove the scar. If a fire gives off a large amount of smoke, a person's mouth should be covered with a wet cloth, since people can faint when they breathe in too much smoke. Even a spark, such as from a [[cigarette]], should be kept away from any fuels that very easily catch and spread fire, like [[gasoline]], or cause an explosion, like [[gunpowder]]. If fire is not treated carefully, it can be very dangerous