Radio Experiments With Fire

Radio communication has become an important tool to aid in combatting wildfire. In this letter, we consider the effect of fire upon radio propagation. Results are presented of broadband radio propagation measurements involving three small-scale fire experiments. Measurements reveal that particular frequency bands are affected by fire, being attenuated when fire is present. Ionization, present in the flames, is identified as the major cause of attenuation on radio propagation.