Marching single file with his firefighting crew along Summit Road in the Blue Mountains, Nick Boling could see a plume of white smoke rise above the pines.

Boling, 28, took note of the fire’s behavior as they drew closer. White smoke likely meant the blaze was low intensity, creeping in grass and fallen branches as opposed to climbing the tops of trees. The wind was also calm, which would prevent the flames from spreading too quickly.

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