Measuring the Particle Flammability of Forest Species from Wildland/Urban Inter-face (WUI) near Athens by Thermal Analysis

In this study the flammability properties of seven dominant Mediterranean plant species from a wildland/urban interface area near Athens were determined, using thermal analytical techniques (TG, DTG and SDTA) in oxygen atmosphere. The forest materials examined were: Pinus halepensis, Quercus coccifera, Pistacia lentiscus, Arbutus unedo, Cistus incanus, Erica manipuliflora, Phillyrea latifolia and forest litter. In addition, the moisture content and the total ash content were determined, in order to correlate flammability properties with these parameters. According to thermal analysis the ignition delay time, heat content, combustion duration and the mass residue were determined. Based on these data, the forest species were ranked into three categories, the least, the moderate and the most flammable ones. Among the forest species examined, the most flammable is Pinus halepensis and the least flammable one is Pistacia lentiscus.