When wildfires burn through forests, the aftermath looks like devastation. Charred trees, scorched soil, and a haze of smoke dominate the scene. Yet under the ashes lies a lesser-known climate ally: wildfire char.

Wildfire char forms when organic matter burns without full oxygen, leaving behind a stable, carbon-rich residue. This material can remain in soils for thousands of years, locking carbon away long after the flames have faded, of course, much like biochar. Recent studies show that wildfire char may also play a surprising role in reducing methane emissions, one of the most potent greenhouse gases in our atmosphere.

The science beneath the ash

According to Earth.com, wildfire char acts as an electron sink for soil microbes. In oxygen-limited environments, microbes use char to transfer electrons instead of producing methane. This process suppresses methane formation while helping soils maintain balance.

A team at the University of Delaware, measured this effect at a microscopic level. They found that a single gram of char can store roughly 10^21 electrons, offering a new understanding of how wildfire char interacts with microbial communities. By giving microbes an alternative to methane production, wildfire char can indirectly lower methane emissions from soils and sediments.

Nature’s ancient carbon strategy

Wildfire char has been part of Earth’s natural systems for millions of years. Each time organic matter burns partially instead of completely, it leaves behind a small deposit of stable carbon. Over time, these layers accumulate in soils and sediments, creating one of the planet’s most persistent carbon stores.

While the full scale of this natural process is still being quantified, scientists recognise this as a key component of the global carbon cycle. Nature has been practicing carbon storage long before humanity developed the concept of carbon credits.

The chemistry of char, whether made by humans or by fire, is fundamentally similar. Both can trap carbon and influence microbial pathways that affect greenhouse gas emissions.

Understanding wildfire char helps us design better biochar systems.However, there is no doubt that wildfires remain destructive, but the science behind wildfire char reframes part of that story. Beneath the damage lies a process that contributes to carbon stability and methane reduction. Studying this material could help bridge the gap between natural resilience and engineered climate solutions.

Wildfire char is not a reason to celebrate wildfires. It is a reason to recognise that even in destruction, the earth has built-in systems that work toward renewal.