This article examines the most common types of natural fires in the Russian Federation, a country with some of the largest peat deposits on the planet, and the reasons for their occurrence. This type of fire causes enormous direct and indirect economic, socio-ecological damage, and indirect damage significantly exceeds direct damage and is distributed over time. The object of the study is drained peat soils and mined-out deposits suitable for crop production. The main reason for the use of peat deposits located in most of the territory of the Russian Federation as agricultural land is highlighted. The agrochemical characteristics of various peat soils are presented, which show that peat has high fertility and is of interest for growing crops. The purpose of the experimental studies was to determine the time before spontaneous combustion of selected peat samples at their natural density. The results of experimental studies of the ability of peat soil to spontaneously ignite depending on its degree of decomposition and bulk density are presented. As a result of the study, the degree of decomposition and ash content of peat samples were determined. The dependence of changes in the volumetric density of peat under natural conditions depending on the degree of decomposition and the dynamics of the heating process of the thermophysical center and the surface of peat samples are presented. It has been determined that the process of destruction of drained peat soils has a clear tendency of rapid growth.