Smoldering combustion propagation of subtropic peat; case study on pelalawan peat

Smoldering combustion was categorized as a very dangerous combustion and considered as a main cause to haze problem during wildland fires in Sumatera, Indonesia. This study aims to determine the characterized of the spread of peat fire, so the mitigation can be done. This study was used experimental methods. In this case, peat from Riau were analyzed and the samples to be used were peat that has been dried in the oven during 24 hours at 100 °C of temperature, moisture content after interaction with air was 7.09%;. This study was resulted the maximum combustion temperature of 508.72 °C. The rate of propagation of peat fires was determine from the difference of time when the combustion temperature reaches 300°C and 365°C. The rate of smoldering propagation at temperature of 300°C of 14.3 cm/h on the vertical direction and 6.31 cm/h on horizontal direction. The rate of smoldering propagation at temperature of 365oC of 19.76 cm/h on the vertical direction and 5.17 cm/h on horizontal direction.