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Some plants are more flammable than others. How gardeners can reduce the risks
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This undated image provided by John Ruter shows pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana), an invasive, nonnative plant that is highly-flammable. - photo by John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
The deadly wildfires in Hawaii this month were fueled in part by plants, in particular invasive grasses that have taken over land once occupied by sugar and pineapple plantations. Some plants are more flammable than others, says Michele Steinberg, wildfire division director at the National Fire Protection Association. But “there is no such thing as a fireproof plant,” she says — all plants can ignite under the right conditions.