Wildfires can change the landscape by burning vegetation and creating charcoal, which may get buried in sediments and help scientists study past fire events. In steep, forested areas, rain after a fire quickly washes charcoal downhill, leaving clear layers. But in flat, dry grasslands, it’s less clear how well fires are recorded in sediments. This study looks at Lake Meredith, Texas, after two major wildfires in 2024. Researchers examined both past sediment layers and current charcoal movement. They found that small, frequent fires don’t leave clear charcoal layers, and even the large 2024 fires have not yet produced a visible signal in the sediment. One reason may be that there hasn’t been enough rain to move the charcoal into the lake. Photos showed plants regrowing just months after the fires, possibly stabilizing the soil before charcoal could be transported. Rainfall simulations suggest only intense, rare storms can move enough charcoal to leave a record. Overall, the study shows that grassland fires are not always well preserved in sediment layers. The creation of a fire record depends on the timing and size of the fire, rainfall, sediment movement, and how quickly vegetation returns.