Wildfires cause damages, killing some plants and occasionally animals. [52] Firefighters have been injured or killed, and structures can be damaged or destroyed. The loss of plants can heighten the risk of significant erosion and landslides. Some observers have reported soil “glassification,” where the silica in the soils has been melted and fused, forming an impermeable layer in the soil; however, research has yet to document the extent, frequency, and duration of this condition, and the soil and burning conditions under which it occurs. Others have noted that “Even the most intense forest fire will rarely have a direct heating effect on the soil at depths below 7 to 10 cm [centimeters]