What does "spotting" refer to in wildfire behavior?

"Spotting" in wildfire behavior describes the phenomenon where embers, carried by the wind, ignite new fires ahead of the main fire. This occurs when burning embers are lofted into the air and can travel significant distances, creating new fire starts even far from the original fire front. Spotting can significantly increase the complexity and danger of a wildfire, as it can lead to the rapid expansion of the fire and make containment efforts more challenging.

Understanding this behavior is crucial for fire management and response strategies, as it emphasizes the need for firefighters to be vigilant for new ignitions that can occur outside the main fire perimeter. The other options do not capture the dynamic nature of how wildfires spread in relation to spotting; planting trees cannot immediately create barriers to fire, identifying high-risk areas is a planning stage, and recognizing smoke signals is more passive and not directly related to the active behavior of the fire.