Experimental Analysis of Fire Behavior in Pine Forests and Agricultural Fields: Large‐Scale Tests Conducted Within the European <scp>TREEADS</scp> Project

ABSTRACT 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 (&lt; 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 m 2 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.