Moisture content thresholds for ignition and rate of fire spread for various dead fuels in northeast forest ecosystems of China

Abstract

Fuel moisture content is one of the important factors that determine ignition probability and fire behaviour in forest ecosystems. In this study, ignition and fire spread moisture content thresholds of 40 dead fuel were performed in laboratory experiments, with a focus on the source of ignition and wind speed. Variability in fuel moisture content at time of ignition and during fire spread was observed for different fuels. Matches were more efficient to result in ignition and spread fire with high values of fuel moisture content compared to the use of cigarette butts. Some fuels did not ignite at 15% moisture content, whereas others ignited at 40% moisture content and fire spread at 38% moisture content in the case of matches, or ignited at 27% moisture content and spread fire at 25% moisture content using cigarette butts. A two-way ANOVA showed that both the source of ignition and the wind speed affected ignition and fire spread threshold significantly, but there was no interaction between these factors. The relationship between ignition and fire spread was strong, with R2 = 98% for cigarette butts, and 92% for matches. Further information is needed, especially on the density of fuels, fuel proportion (case of mixed fuels), fuel age, and fuel combustibility.