Naturally occuring wildfires in Minecraft?

I was out exploring and I ran into an area where all the trees were burning--the leaves were gone, it was trunk pieces that will never burn up.

Now, I have had a wildfire get out of hand some time ago but I don't think it burned anywhere near this area and there are plenty of unburned trees between my wildfire and this patch.

Do wildfires happen on their own?

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2 Answers

As you explored, you triggered a chunk to be created. Minecraft decided to put a lava fall in that chunk. The lava spread on the ground. The trees became close enough to catch fire as a result and the fire quickly spread out...

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Now with the weather, lightnings can hit a tree and start a fire. But it's rare because the rain will extinguish it.