What distinguishes a structural fire from a wildland fire?

A structural fire is defined as one that occurs within buildings and manmade structures, which distinguishes it from wildland fires that typically happen in natural areas, such as forests or grasslands. This distinction is significant as it highlights the environment and the types of fuels involved in each fire scenario. Structural fires often involve materials like wood, plastics, and other construction materials that present different challenges in terms of fire behavior, extinguishing methods, and safety hazards compared to wildfires, which generally involve vegetation and organic materials. Understanding this difference in environments helps firefighters and emergency responders prepare and implement appropriate tactics, safety measures, and equipment based on the nature of the fire incident they are dealing with.