1) the process of oxidizing living material. This process produces atmospheric particulates as well as the production of greenhouse and reactive tropospheric gases. These gases include CO2, CO, NOx, CH4, CH3Cl along with the addition of black carbon. All of these chemical species can be lofted relatively high in the atmosphere due to the convective heating of a fire.
source: [Graedel, T.D. and Paul Crutzen. Atmospheric Change: an Earth system perspective; 1993; Freeman Press.]