A wildfire is any uncontrolled, non-structure fire that occurs in the wilderness, wildland, or bush.Synonyms such as wildland fire, forest fire, brush fire, vegetation fire, grass fire, peat fire, bushfire (in Australasia), and hill fire are commonly used. The name wildfire was once a synonym for Greek fire as well as a word for any furious or destructive conflagration. Wildfires are common in various parts of the world, occurring in cycles. They are often considered beneficial to the wilderness, as many plant species are dependent on the effects of fire for growth and reproduction. However, large wildfires often have detrimental atmospheric consequences. Nine out of ten wildfires are reportedly caused by some human interaction.
Prevention, detection, and suppression strategies have varied over the years, but now incorporate techniques that permit and even encourage fires in some regions. However, with extensive urbanization of wilderness, wildfires often involve the destruction of homes and other property located in the wildland-urban interface, a zone of transition between developed areas and undeveloped wilderness.