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Author(s):
Mark A. Finney, C. Todd Smith, Trevor B. Maynard
Year Published:

Cataloging Information

Topic(s):
Fire Behavior

NRFSN number: 20047
Record updated:

Tests were conducted using 97 exploding targets (ammonium nitrate and aluminum powder) to examine the effects of product formulation, environment, and shooting on wildfire ignition. Tests in 2015 produced no ignitions in cold and humid weather conditions. Ignitions in 2018 under warm and dry conditions were positively related to the aluminum concentration (expressed as a percentage of the ammonium nitrate mass) and the placement of the target on a straw fuel bed rather than on a 6 in (15 cm) high steel pedestal. High speed videography and peak overpressure measured for each explosion suggested that differences in explosive characteristics were also related to other experimentally controlled variables and could help explain how wildfire ignition results from elements of product usage.

Citation

Finney, Mark A.; Smith, C. Todd; Maynard, Trevor B. 2019. Experiments on wildfire ignition by exploding targets. Res. Pap. RMRS-RP-108. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 29 p.