Light gases were measured in the persistent, intermittent and plume regions of a wildland fire diffusion flame produced by burning longleaf pine needles from the southern United States. This data publication includes measurements taken during a pilot experiment, conducted in February 2020, that measured flame gases from 24 experimental fires which were collected in canisters and analyzed using EPA method TO-14A for CO₂, CO, H₂, CH₄ and C₂ to C₇ hydrocarbon gases. Gas chromatography / mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with flame ionization detector (FID) was the primary method used to identify the hydrocarbons. Other light gases were measured using FTIR spectroscopy. Additional data include bare wire type K thermocouple temperature measurements and O₂ levels measured in the flame's zones.