TY - CONF A1 - Klippel, Andrea A1 - Hofmann-Böllinghaus, Anja A1 - Heydick, Lukas A1 - Piechnik, Kira A1 - Wu, Hongyi A1 - Köhler, Florian T1 - Experimental Analysis of Fire Behaviour in Pine Forests and Agricultural Fields Large Scale Tests conducted within the TREEADS Project N2 - In two large-scale tests fire spread mechanisms in vegetation ground fires were studied in a pine forest and a crop field. Both fires were ignited with a drip torch using a gasoline-diesel mix. The tests were part of the European TREEADS project, specifically in the research work from the German Pilot focusing on Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg. These regions are known for dry, sandy soil, with pine trees covering approximately 73% of forested areas in Brandenburg and 48% in Saxony-Anhalt. The results of both experiments make a substantial contribution to optimizing extinguishing methods and strategies and enhancing a continued wildfire research in Germany. The test areas included a 16 x 22 m plot in a Saxony-Anhalt pine forest and a 20 x 100 m plot on a crop field, with fires ignited along a line using a drip torch at both locations. Fire spread was monitored with video and IR cameras mounted on a drone. In the pine forest, 96 thermocouples and gas sensors were attached to trees and a mobile FTIR spectrometer was used for real-time gas measurements. A protective strip was created around the test area using a soil tiller and fire-retardant foam to prevent uncontrolled fire spread. The experiment showed a consistent temperature rise as the fire was ignited and spread. Thermocouple data captured detailed thermal dynamics, while tree-mounted gas sensors recorded significant fluctuations in combustible gases. Real-time gas spectra from the FTIR spectrometer enabled precise smoke analysis. Conducted in stable weather - 23°C, light wind, low soil moisture—this setup improved reproducibility, with a weather station monitoring temperature, humidity and wind conditions to assess fire-environment interactions. After ignition process the fire showed a slow spread and distinct combustion phases. Smouldering was more pronounced in areas with grasses and deadwood, highlighting vegetation-specific burn patterns critical to wildfire research. The experiment showed numerous smouldering and burning spots, with flames igniting and extinguishing repeatedly. However, flame height did not exceed half a meter. Due to substantial smoke production, visibility in the test field was limited and team members wore respirators to collect specific smoke gases such as benzene and formaldehyde for analysis. Field measurements showed flame temperatures exceeding 500°C. Toxic smoke gas concentrations of up to 238 ppm CO were measured, although precise gas capture appeared challenging due to wind turbulence. The second large-scale area in Nauen, a cut wheat field (stubble height approx. 30 cm) was burned, with fire spreading across approximately 700 m². A 20 m ignition line directed flames with the wind. Fire spread was observed using drones equipped with IR cameras. Experiments demonstrated how unpredictable and challenging it is to measure large outdoor fires. To enable a comprehensive theoretical and numerical description of fire dynamics in wildfires, it is essential to conduct further large-scale experiments. T2 - Interflam 2025, 16th International Fire Science and Engineering Conference CY - London, United Kingdom DA - 30.06.2025 KW - Wildfire PY - 2025 SP - 1435 EP - 1444 PB - Interscience CY - London AN - OPUS4-63926 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Piechnik, Kira A1 - Hofmann-Böllinghaus, Anja A1 - Klippel, Andrea T1 - Characterization and assessment of smoke emissions from smouldering forest fires: a combined experimental and numerical approach N2 - This article builds upon the publication "Comprehensive Laboratory Study on Smoke Gases During the Thermal Oxidative Decomposition of Forest and Vegetation Fuels"1 in Fire and Materials, 2024, summarizing the experimental methodology and highlighting key findings. The study investigates the gas-phase composition of smoke emissions from forest and vegetation fuels. The study focuses on pine-dominated ecosystems in Eastern Germany, with the objective of improving the understanding of wildfire-related gaseous emissions, as a contribution to the German pilot activities within the EU Project TREEADS. Using a modified DIN tube furnace in a bench-scale setup, the investigation centers on gaseous emissions from five trees and two ground cover species, explicitly excluding particulate matter. T2 - Interflam 2025, 16th International Fire Science and Engineering Conference CY - London, UK DA - 30.06.2025 KW - Wildfire PY - 2025 SP - 288 EP - 294 PB - Interscience CY - London AN - OPUS4-63999 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Klippel, Andrea A1 - Hofmann‐Böllinghaus, Anja A1 - Piechnik, Kira A1 - Heydick, Lukas A1 - Wu, Hongyi A1 - Köhler, Florian A1 - Klaffke, Benjamin T1 - Experimental Analysis of Fire Behavior in Pine Forests and Agricultural Fields: Large‐Scale Tests Conducted Within the European TREEADS Project N2 - Two large‐scale experiments investigated fire spread mechanisms in vegetation ground fires in a pine forest and an agricultural field within the European TREEADS project. The tests, conducted in Saxony‐Anhalt and Brandenburg, targeted regions with dry, sandy soils and extensive pine stands and aim to improve suppression strategies and wildfire research. The forest experiment was conducted on a 16 × 22 m plot with line ignition using a gasoline‐diesel mix. Fire spread was documented with drone‐based video and infrared imaging. Ninety‐six thermocouples and two gas sensors were mounted on trees, and a mobile FTIR spectrometer enabled real‐time smoke analysis. A tilled and foam‐treated strip prevented uncontrolled spread. Under stable weather conditions (23°C, light wind, low soil moisture), a consistent temperature rise and distinct combustion phases were observed. Smoldering dominated in areas with mosses, grasses, and deadwood, with intermittent flaming, limited flame heights (< 0.5 m), and substantial smoke production. Peak temperatures exceeded 500°C, and CO concentrations reached 238 ppm, though wind turbulence complicated gas sampling. The second experiment on a cut agricultural field near Nauen involved burning approximately 700 m2 using a 20 m ignition line aligned with wind direction. Drone‐based infrared monitoring captured rapid spread on the stubble surface. The results underscore the variability and measurement challenges of outdoor fires and highlight the necessity of continued large‐scale experiments to support physical and numerical wildfire modeling. These findings provide essential empirical data for evaluating vegetation‐specific burning behavior, improving sensor deployment strategies, and refining validation approaches for next‐generation wildfire spread models under central European fuel and weather conditions, and supporting decision‐making in wildfire management. KW - Wildfire KW - Pine KW - Crop PY - 2026 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-654199 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/fam.70045 SN - 0308-0501 SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - Wiley AN - OPUS4-65419 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Piechnik, Kira A1 - Heydick, Lukas A1 - Hofmann-Böllinghaus, Anja A1 - Klippel, Andrea T1 - Comprehensive laboratory study on smoke gases during the thermal oxidative decomposition of forest and vegetation fuels N2 - AbstractThis study investigates the composition of smoke gases in forest and vegetation samples to draw conclusions about the actual smoke gas composition during wildfires. The focus is particularly on regions with extensive pine forests, like in Eastern Germany. The relevance of smoke gases is well illustrated by the example of wildfires in Québec, influencing air quality in New York, in 2023. By employing a modified DIN tube furnace, a bench‐scale test set‐up, the research emphasizes the examination of smoke composition from tree species and ground cover, prioritizing gases while disregarding particles. Key smoke gases are identified as CO, CO2, SO2, HCN, C3H4O (acrolein) and CH2O (formaldehyde) and their concentrations are compared with Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGL) limits. Acknowledging the limitations of AEGL usage and the problem with direct quantitative comparison of toxicant concentrations (cf. ISO 29903‐1:2020), the study highlights variations in smoke composition across different samples. The results of the studies reveal a significant disparity in CO concentration between dry and fresh pine needles. Frequently, the AEGLs of key gases are exceeded significantly. The elemental analysis of the barks indicates distinct differences in composition, reflecting in the concentrations of smoke gases. The ratio of 1 mole of substance turnover to the identified key components will be used to determine input parameters for the subsequent numerical simulation. KW - Forest KW - Wildfire KW - Ignition PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-617744 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/fam.3253 SP - 1 EP - 12 PB - Wiley online library AN - OPUS4-61774 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Piechnik, Kira A1 - Hofmann-Böllinghaus, Anja A1 - Klippel, Andrea T1 - Self‐ignition of forest soil samples demonstrated through hot storage tests N2 - AbstractThe increasing threat of forest fires on a global scale is not only a matter of concern due to the potential harm they may cause to both human and animal life but also due to their significant role in exacerbating climate change. In light of these circumstances, one might inquire as to whether forest soil can self‐ignite and, if so, under what conditions and at what temperatures this phenomenon may occur. This question is being addressed in the German pilot “Fire science of wildfires and safety measures” of the EU project TREEADS, and the first results are presented below. The importance of basic research into the self‐ignition of forest soil cannot be underestimated, as it provides crucial knowledge to prevent forest fires and protect human and animal health. Furthermore, mitigating the occurrence of forest fires can also play a role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to global efforts to combat climate change. The procedure of the hot storage test is an effective means of determining whether a material can self‐ignite. During the investigation of six soil samples, it was found that five of them were indeed capable of self‐ignition. In addition to determining whether the material ignites, the modified hot storage test also analyzed the resulting smoke gases and measured their concentration. The research question of whether regional forest soil is capable of self‐ignition can be answered with yes based on these initial tests. Further experiments are needed to determine if self‐ignition causes forest fires. KW - FTIR KW - Hot storage KW - Ignition KW - Soil KW - Wildfire PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-594617 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/fam.3198 SN - 1099-1018 VL - 48 IS - 4 SP - 495 EP - 507 PB - Wiley CY - New York, NY AN - OPUS4-59461 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -