Abstract: After snow and ice disasters,stands of Pinus massoniana,Cunninghamia lanceolata,Liquidambar formosana,Cinnamomum camphora and Phyllostachys pubescens and new burned forest areas in Hunan Province were surveyed in experimental plots.Water content and fuel load of combustible samples were measured and fire behaviors,such as rate of spread etc.,were calculated.The results showed that fuel load increased double in a short time,fuel thickness enhanced,fuel continuity swelled and water content of fuel decreased since shrubs and herbs died after snow and ice disasters.Load of fuel in 7 plots varied from 12.23 to 50.26 t·hm^-2.After snow and ice disasters,with fire environment changed,fire behaviors of burned forest areas were extraordinary complex.Fire intensity was 1 500～9 000 kW·m^-1,with average 3 500 kW·m^-1.Rate of fire spread was 111.67 ～972.71 m²·min^-1,and fire severity exceeded 50%.This situation suggested the forests were at the risk of the conflagration.

Key words: snow and ice disasters, forest fuel, fire environment, fire behavior