How does the 2D flame stay in sync with the physics?

Every particle is aged forward each frame using the same progress = age / life model as the 3D engine: height rises linearly with progress, radius narrows as it climbs, and color interpolates from white-hot through orange to dark red and smoke as the particle cools.

What does the turbulence slider change?

It scales a layered-sine pseudo-noise field that displaces each particle's radius from the fire's core, so higher turbulence produces a more chaotic, swirling plume instead of a smooth cone.

Why do embers drift further than the flame?

Embers are a separate, longer-lived particle population that keeps rising above the visible flame tip, so wind has more time to accumulate horizontal drift on them before they fade out.

Home▸Thermodynamics▸Bonfire — Particle Flame Simulation (2D)

Bonfire — Particle Flame Simulation (2D)

A Canvas2D particle-based bonfire: hundreds of flame particles rise, narrow and cool from white-hot to dark red before fading, while a separate ember population drifts on the wind above the flame tip.

Thermodynamics2DModerate60 FPS📱 Mobile-adapted⇄ 3D version

This 2D companion drives the same particle-based flame model as the 3D version on a flat canvas: hundreds of short-lived particles spawn at the fuel bed, rise, narrow and cool from white-hot to dark red before fading, while wind and turbulence sliders let you see the plume bend and swirl in real time, with a separate ember population drifting above the flame tip.

⚙ Under the hood

2D particle-based bonfire: hundreds of flame particles rise, cool and fade from a fuel bed while embers drift on the wind — with live controls for intensity, wind and turbulence.

particle flamecombustion physicsturbulencewind driftembers

2D · HTML5 Canvas 2D · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install