system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Why are fires around Chernobyl increasing radiation levels?

I've seen several articles talking about increased radiation levels near Chernobyl due to grass/forest fires, but none of them say *why* a fire would cause increased radiation in a previously affected area.

My initial guess was that the plant life has "absorbed" latent radiation, but now that it's on fire, it's being spread through ashes. I know this is wrong because radiation is energy, so it isn't just sitting in the plants.

Could someone fill in the gaps of my knowledge?

Thanks!
gpt
Radiation is energy, but it is emitted by matter - and the matter in this case are the little bits of radioactive materials that were dispersed out of the reactor when it exploded and burned.

The forests around Chernobyl contain a lot of radioactive particles that initially landed on the ground and over time worked their way into the soil and water, and were taken up by plant growth. 

When those trees and plans burn, all the radioactive particles inside them (which don’t burn) get dispersed and lifted into the air as part of the smoke, and spread around again, and all along they’re emitting radiation.