Ignition of Mediterranean Fuel Beds by Several Types of Firebrands

An experimental laboratory study on the probability of ignition and ignition time delay of new fires for 11 pairs of burning embers and fuel beds of species common in Mediterranean forests is presented. For the no wind conditions of the present tests it was found that positive ignition was achieved only for embers with flaming combustion. Fuel bed moisture content was identified as a very important parameter to assess probability of ignition and ignition time delay. In the range of the present tests it was found that ignition depended more on fuel bed properties than on ember characteristics.

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