▁the ▁fuel ▁play ▁only ▁a ▁minor ▁role ▁here . ▁ ▁At ▁a ▁certain ▁point ▁in ▁the ▁comb ust ion ▁reaction , ▁called ▁the ▁ign ition ▁point , ▁fl ames ▁are ▁produced . ▁ ▁The ▁fl ame ▁is ▁the ▁visible ▁portion ▁of ▁the ▁fire . ▁Fl ames ▁consist ▁primarily ▁of ▁carbon ▁dio x ide , ▁water ▁v apor , ▁o xygen ▁and ▁nit ro gen . ▁ ▁If ▁hot ▁enough , ▁the ▁g ases ▁may ▁become ▁ion ized ▁to ▁produce ▁pl asma . ▁Depending ▁on ▁the ▁subst ances ▁al ight , ▁and ▁any ▁imp ur ities ▁outside , ▁the ▁color ▁of ▁the ▁fl ame ▁and ▁the ▁fire ' s ▁intensity ▁will ▁be ▁different . ▁ ▁Fire ▁in ▁its ▁most ▁common ▁form ▁can ▁result ▁in ▁confl agr ation , ▁which ▁has ▁the ▁potential ▁to ▁cause ▁physical ▁damage ▁through ▁burning . ▁ ▁Fire ▁is ▁an ▁important ▁process ▁that ▁affect s ▁e colog ical ▁systems ▁around ▁the ▁glo be . ▁The ▁positive ▁effects ▁of ▁fire ▁include ▁stim ulating ▁growth ▁and ▁maintain ing ▁various ▁e colog ical ▁systems . ▁ ▁The ▁negative ▁effects ▁of ▁fire ▁include ▁ha z ard ▁to ▁life ▁and ▁property , ▁atmos pher ic ▁poll ution , ▁and ▁water ▁cont am ination . ▁If ▁fire ▁removes ▁protect ive ▁veget ation , ▁heavy ▁ra inf all ▁may ▁lead ▁to ▁an ▁increase ▁in ▁soil ▁er os ion ▁by ▁water . ▁Also , ▁when ▁veget ation ▁is ▁burn ed , ▁the ▁nit ro gen ▁it ▁contains ▁is ▁released ▁into ▁the ▁atmosphere , ▁unlike ▁elements ▁such ▁as ▁pot ass