Saguaro National Park and the University of Arizona performed several buffelgrass test burns in Avra Valley, Arizona. These test burns taught ecologists about buffelgrass fire behavior to help them develop models predicting how buffelgrass would burn in the Park. Some of the observations and results from the fire include:

• Peak temperatures reached over 1600⁰ F.
• Average temperature was between 1300-1400⁰ F.
• Tallest flame height was 25 feet.
• Average flame heights were 8.5 to 11 feet.
• Rate of fire spread was 1.4-3.0 mph (with wind speeds of 4-9 mph).
• Fuel loads (biomass of buffelgrass) varied from 1 to 6 tons per acre.