Forest fires are fueled by gases released when plants burn. This study looked at how shrubs in the understory contribute to this process. Researchers used laser scanning to map the distribution of sparkleberry shrubs before and after controlled burns. They found that the shrubs were not closely related to the overstory trees, indicating they can grow in shade. Surprisingly, the amount of shrub consumed during the burns did not affect the type of gases released. This suggests that other factors may play a role in the chemical composition of pyrolysis gases.