Current forest fire models are largely empirical correlations based on data from beds of dead vegetation. Improvement in model capabilities is sought by developing models of the combustion of live fuels. A facility was developed to determine the combustion behavior of small samples of live fuels, consisting of a flat-flame burner on a moveable platform. Qualitative and quantitative combustion data are presented for representative samples of California chaparral: manzanita (Arctostaplylos parryana); oak (Quercus berberidifolia); ceanothus (Ceanothus crassifolius), and chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum). Times to ignition were significantly influenced by shape effects, whereas ignition temperature was more dependent on chemical composition.