There's uncharred wood less than an inch from glowing embers. That temperature differential is kinda insane. Wood is a great thermal insulator. It just happens to also be a fuel.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

My forestry prof showed us pics where a steel I-beam had melted (bowed down), yet charred lumber was still structurally sound. Made me a believer.

He was the same man who introduced the idea of "dead air space" as insulation to me. Yeah, that was a life changer. I understand so much more now.