This official news post is copied verbatim from the WoTMUD website. It is copyrighted by wotmud.org.
Forest fires have been reported in the north of the lands. The sign of these is smoke billowing throughout the nearby area - they're exhausting to fight your way through, and panic, disorientate and disperse groups stumbling into them at high speed. Some have been successfully put out by emptying out barrels of water. The rumours from the north are that these have been started for strategic purposes, to trap war parties, disperse armies and create natural barriers.
Please note that anyone in possession of a "cinder" should be treated with caution, as dropping these on the ground in certain places will set the forest on fire.
Feedback to me please, tweaks are probably inevitable.