Pacific Southwest Research Station

Publication Information

Title: Ignition behavior of live California chaparral leaves

Author: Engstrom, J.D.; Butler, J.K; Smith, S.G.; Baxter, L.L.; Fletcher, T.H.; Weise, D.R.

Date: 2004

Source: Combustion Science and Tech, 176: 1577-1591

Description: Current forest fire models are largely empirical correlations based on data from beds of dead vegetation Improvement in model capabilities is sought by developing models of the combustion of live fuels. A facility was developed to determine the combustion behavior of small samples of live fuels, consisting of a flat-flame burner on a moveable platform Qualitative and quantitative combustion data are presented for representative samples of California chaparral: manzanita (Arctostaphylos purryuna); oak (Qurrcus herheridifblia); ceanothus (Ceanothus crassifolius), and chamise (Adenostoma fusciculatum) Times to ignition were significantly influenced by shape effects. whereas ignition temperature was more dependent on chemical composition.

Key Words: wildland fires, ignition

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Engstrom, J.D.; Butler, J.K; Smith, S.G.; Baxter, L.L.; Fletcher, T.H.; Weise, D.R.  2004.  Ignition behavior of live California chaparral leaves  Combustion Science and Tech, 176: 1577-1591.